How to Maintain a Leading Edge in 2026

Company news and financial news, analysis, viewpoint and data covering the six Gulf Corporation Council members Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Financial development across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is set to speed up in 2026, with the area projected to outshine its 2025 performance despite muted oil earnings and continuous international unpredictabilities. According to a brand-new Oxford Economics research rundown, GCC GDP growth is expected to rise to 4.4 percent in 2026, up from 4 percent in 2025, reflecting a resistant nonenergy sector, strong consumer characteristics, and slowly improving oil output.

The most current forecasts suggest that Gulf economies are now wellpositioned to restore momentum, buoyed by enhancing domestic demand and a broadly steady worldwide background. The report highlights GCC customers as a significant driver of the region's financial efficiency heading into next year. Low inflation, robust labour markets, and growing real non reusable earnings are anticipated to sustain a rise in customer spending across the Gulf.

Credit growth is also anticipated to remain raised as access to financial services broadens. With GCC central banks expected to follow awaited United States Federal Reserve rate cuts due to the region's dollar pegs, borrowing costs are likely to decline, offering households and organizations further impetus to spend and invest. While the nonoil sector continues to anchor the area's strength, the GCC's hydrocarbon outlook presents a mixed image.

Reviewing 2026 Market Research for Strategic Growth

This might weigh on firsthalf growth, especially for economies more dependent on oil extraction. However, Oxford Economics projects a rebound later in 2026, with Opec+ members expected to resume raising production as stocks tighten and international demand improves. Qatar, meanwhile, stands apart as a regional outperformer, with considerable expansions in gas production and exports expected to lift its general financial efficiency.

Saudi Arabia's 2026 spending plan anticipates a 6 per cent cut in capital investment as the kingdom intends to narrow its financial deficit by two percentage points. The report keeps in mind that these cuts might not materialise totally if countercyclical costs steps are triggered to support growth. By contrast, more varied economies such as the UAE and Qatar are anticipated to continue advancing their development programs.

Regardless of shortterm risks connected to oil rates and global demand, the GCC's 2026 financial outlook is specified by strength in basics: resistant consumers, robust nonenergy sectors, improving oil characteristics, and strategic financial preparation. With these elements lining up, the area is preparing for among its most well balanced durations of growth over the last few years anchored by a clear upward trajectory in GDP development.

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RIYADH: Gulf Cooperation Council regional economies are expected to remain durable in 2026, driven by strong domestic need and a broadly stable international economy, according to an analysis. In its most current report, Oxford Economics highlighted that the genuine gross domestic item of the GCC area is expected to broaden by 4.4 percent in 2026, up from the predicted 4 percent this year.

We expect GCC development will increase to 4.4 percent in 2026, from 4 percent this year."In November, the GCC Statistical Center said that economic growth in the area is set to speed up to 4.3 percent by 2027, driven by broadening non-oil sectors.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Non-oil activities accounted for 73.2 percent of overall GDP, up from 70.6 percent at the end of 2024, highlighting the region's continued development towards diversity. According to Oxford Economics, GCC consumers will be standout entertainers in 2026 and are expected to outshine their international peers.

In December, the IMF further said that heading inflation is anticipated to remain below 2 percent in Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar, near 2 percent in the Kingdom and the UAE, and a little above 2 percent in Kuwait in 20252026. According to Oxford Economics, credit development is anticipated to stay raised in the GCC area during 2026, as access to monetary services is anticipated to grow and lending is predicted to be supported by further cuts in rates of interest."Owing to their currency pegs to the United States dollar, GCC central banks are anticipated to follow the US Federal Reserve by alleviating monetary policy even more, which in turn will reduce financial obligation servicing costs and improve non reusable earnings and demand," said the report.