Leading the 2026 Regional Economic Environment for Leaders

3.2 percent development in 2025, accelerating to 4.5 percent in 2026. Sees momentum improving, with GCC output growth projected to increase from 1.7 percent in 2024 to 3.3 percent on average in 2025, showing a shift towards more positive overall conditions.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

The IMF's World Economic Outlook (October 2025) projects international growth relieving to 3.1 percent in 2026, with advanced economies around 1.5 percent and emerging market and establishing economies simply above 4 percent. On that contrast, a 4.44.5 percent GCC growth would position the area materially ahead of the world average and a little above (or broadly in line with) the emerging-market aggregate, enhancing the GCC's status as a reasonably high-growth pocketprovided that local threat conditions remain included and reform momentum holds.

Information from the GCC Statistical Center reveal that non-oil sectors already represent more than 73 percent of overall GDP, a share that has continued to increase as governments expand investment in services, facilities, and innovation. According to Oxford Economics, non-energy activity throughout the GCC is projected to grow by around 4.1 percent in 2026, supported by strong labor markets, improving credit conditions, and rising financial investment in innovation and AI-related facilities.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Public-sector investment and reform remain main to sustaining this pattern. Policy steps focused on bring in foreign direct financial investment, relieving foreign ownership rules, broadening capital markets, and supporting private-sector participation continue to underpin non-oil growth and decrease the region's direct exposure to oil cost volatility. While hydrocarbons no longer control the development outlook, oil incomes are expected to play a helpful role in 2026.