As we enter 2026, the Gulf stands at one of the most interesting moments in its modern economic story. For years, the GCC economies have been building the foundations of diversification, investing in infrastructure, reshaping regulatory systems and preparing their societies for a world in which natural resources are no longer the sole engine of prosperity. The coming year will show how those long-term bets begin to move from vision to impact.
On a macroeconomic level, forecasts point to steady momentum. The Economist Intelligence Unit expects GCC growth to reach around 3 per cent in 2025 and rise to 4.1 per cent in 2026. That acceleration will not come from the traditional hydrocarbons cycle alone, but from large infrastructure projects, expanding private sectors, and a healthy pipeline of economic reforms across the region. Tourism, manufacturing and logistics will continue to strengthen their position as viable non-oil pillars. Oil prices remain supportive, but the story of 2026 will be about the maturing of the non-oil economy.
Yet the trajectory of the Gulf is being shaped by forces that go far beyond macroeconomics. In 2026, two strategic shifts will define the region: the rise of the AI state, and the expanding geoeconomic footprint of GCC investme
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