Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries outperformed the global average in the 2026 Economic Freedom Index, reflecting stronger economic openness and an improved business environment, data from the GCC Statistical Centre (GCC-Stat) showed.
Alvarez & Marsal (A&M), a leading global professional services firm, has published a strategic roadmap designed to accelerate industrial localisation across the GCC region through disciplined policy frameworks, deep technology transfer and ecosystem orchestration.
Gulf States can become stronger tourism destinations after conflict, said aviation leader and Knighthood Global Chairman James Hogan, citing strong branding, leadership, and investment. He urged a focus on destination strengths and openness rather than price-driven strategies for recovery.
Gulf women continue to strengthen their presence in the development journey of GCC countries, supported by a young population base and growing participation in the labour market, according to a GCC-Stat report.
Energy disruptions from the Iran war strain Gulf oil and gas exporters, while importers like Egypt and Jordan face higher commodity prices and reduced remittances from Gulf workers, worsening economic pressures across the region, said the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
AD Ports Group has successfully drawn on its diversified logistics capabilities to strengthen local and regional supply chains in GCC, ensuring continued resilience. To date, it has handled over 54,000 TEUs at Fujairah and Khor Fakkan Port, and successfully transported over 22,000 containers.
France and the Gulf Cooperation Council states will meet in Paris on June 18 and 19 June for Vision Golfe, a high-level forum designed to accelerate trade, investment and strategic cooperation between the two regions.
KEO, a leading multidisciplinary consulting firm, and Margulies Hoelzli Architecture (MHA), a leader in data center and mission-critical design, have entered into a strategic partnership to deliver end-to-end data center solutions for developers and investors across the GCC and Europe.
The Middle East war could lead to total and partial loss events for a small number of rated sukuk, particularly where they have underlying assets targeted by attacks. Those backed by industrial or commercial real estate are the most vulnerable, according to S&P Global Ratings.
Quarterly net profits reported by companies listed on GCC exchanges witnessed a sharp sequential decline and reached the lowest level in 12 quarters during Q4-2025, said a Kamco research report.
