Major Trends in the 2026 Middle East Market

3.2 percent growth in 2025, accelerating to 4.5 percent in 2026. Sees momentum improving, with GCC output development forecasted to increase from 1.7 percent in 2024 to 3.3 percent on average in 2025, showing a shift toward more favorable general conditions.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

The IMF's World Economic Outlook (October 2025) projects international development reducing to 3.1 percent in 2026, with sophisticated economies around 1.5 percent and emerging market and developing economies simply above 4 percent. On that contrast, a 4.44.5 percent GCC expansion would position the region materially ahead of the world average and somewhat above (or broadly in line with) the emerging-market aggregate, strengthening the GCC's status as a fairly high-growth pocketprovided that regional risk conditions stay included and reform momentum holds.

Information from the GCC Statistical Center reveal that non-oil sectors already account for more than 73 percent of total GDP, a share that has continued to rise as federal governments expand investment in services, infrastructure, and innovation. According to Oxford Economics, non-energy activity across 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 infrastructure.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Public-sector financial investment and reform remain main to sustaining this pattern. Policy steps focused on drawing in foreign direct investment, relieving foreign ownership rules, expanding capital markets, and supporting private-sector involvement continue to underpin non-oil expansion and reduce the region's direct exposure to oil rate volatility. While hydrocarbons no longer control the development outlook, oil incomes are anticipated to play a helpful function in 2026.