Managing the 2026 Regional Business Landscape for Executives

The World Bank, on the other hand, jobs 3.2 percent development in 2025, accelerating to 4.5 percent in 2026. The IMF Sees momentum improving, with GCC output growth forecasted to increase from 1.7 percent in 2024 to 3.3 percent on average in 2025, reflecting a shift towards more positive overall conditions.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

The IMF's World Economic Outlook (October 2025) projects global development easing to 3.1 percent in 2026, with innovative economies around 1.5 percent and emerging market and developing economies just above 4 percent. On that comparison, a 4.44.5 percent GCC growth would position the region materially ahead of the world average and slightly above (or broadly in line with) the emerging-market aggregate, reinforcing the GCC's status as a relatively high-growth pocketprovided that regional threat conditions remain contained and reform momentum holds.

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

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Public-sector investment and reform stay main to sustaining this pattern. Policy procedures targeted at attracting foreign direct financial investment, reducing foreign ownership rules, expanding capital markets, and supporting private-sector participation continue to underpin non-oil growth and reduce the region's direct exposure to oil cost volatility. While hydrocarbons no longer control the development outlook, oil revenues are expected to play an encouraging function in 2026.