GCC economies are set for a sharp rebound, with growth forecast to reach 8.5% in 2027, according to ICAEW’s latest Economic Insight Q1 2026 report, produced in partnership with Oxford Economics.
Saudi Arabia’s real gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 4.5% in 2025 compared with 2024, driven by growth across all economic activities, with oil activities rising 5.7%. The total GDP at current prices reached SAR4,789 billion ($1275.70 billion) in the year.
Middle Eastern airlines led global air cargo growth in January, helping lift worldwide demand 5.6% year-on-year, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said in its report, as the sector opened 2026 on a firm footing despite geopolitical and trade headwinds.
UAE-based Emerging Travel Group (ETG) has registered solid results for FY 2025 with its gross transaction value hitting $4.8 billion, up 30% over the previous year. The main driver of this growth was the company's flagship B2B platform, RateHawk, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.
Talabat Holding, a leading on-demand online ordering and delivery platform in the Mena region, has announced that its board has recommended a share buyback programme of up to 5% of the company’s issued share capital, to be executed over a period of up to two years.
Tecom Group, a key developer of strategic business districts in Dubai, has announced that its board has won approval to distribute aggregate cash dividends worth AED880 million ($229 million) to its shareholders for FY2025. It will be paid in two equal instalments (this August and April next year) as per the updated dividend policy.
Free Zones Authority of Ajman has recorded exceptional financial and operational results in 2025, achieving a major surge in the number of registered companies compared to 2024. Revenues also rose by 17% due to the growth in the number of investors, while occupancy rates reached 95%.
Amazon is entering its fourth-quarter earnings period with improving investor confidence, supported by a strong performance in the previous quarter and growing optimism around its cloud computing division, Amazon Web Services (AWS), said an industry expert.
Arab economies are expected to record a growth of 3.7 percent in the coming period, driven by increased oil production and the continued recovery of non-oil sectors, said Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The Port of Fujairah in UAE has recorded a solid growth in marine fuel sales for January, reaching its highest level in four months, said a report. The data showed that total bunker sales surged to 635,835 cu m, up 6.1% when compared to December 2025.
