GCC Currencies in 2025: Dollar Peg Stability and the Case for Monetary Union
The question of GCC monetary union has been debated by economists and policymakers for decades without resolution. Yet the underlying logic, combining dollar-pegged currencies...
MENA Economic Outlook 2026: Key Sectors, Investment Themes, and Growth Drivers for GCC Business
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region enters the second half of 2026 with substantial economic momentum, despite a complex global backdrop of...
GCC Economy 2025: Growth, Diversification and the Road to Post-Oil Prosperity
The GCC economies entered 2025 with a combination of macroeconomic resilience and ongoing diversification momentum that positions the region more favourably than at any...
Abu Dhabi’s Hub71 2026 Cohort: 40 Startups Raise USD 230 Million in Six Months
Hub71, Abu Dhabi's global technology ecosystem located in the Mubadala-backed Al Maryah Island district, has announced that its 2026 accelerator cohort of 40 startups...
GCC Halal Food Industry Targets USD 700 Billion Global Export Market by 2030
The global halal food market was valued at USD 2.8 trillion in 2025, according to the State of the Global Islamic Economy Report, with...
Kuwait Investment Authority: The World’s Oldest Sovereign Wealth Fund and Its Strategy
The Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), established in 1953, holds the distinction of being the world's oldest sovereign wealth fund, predating most modern institutional investment...
Saudi Arabia’s Digital Riyal CBDC Pilot Expands to 20 Banks as Cross-Border Testing Begins
Saudi Arabia's Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) programme, the Digital Saudi Riyal, has expanded its domestic pilot from 6 to 20 participating banks, with...
GCC and the Evolving World Trade Order: How Gulf Nations are Navigating Global Shifts
The GCC countries have been among the most active pursuers of bilateral free trade and economic partnership agreements in the world over the past...
The Big 5 Saudi 2026 Construction Expo: B2B Guide for GCC Real Estate and Infrastructure Professionals
The Big 5 Saudi, the Kingdom's premier construction industry exhibition, returns to the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Convention Centre from 9-12 June 2026. The...
Editorial: Why GCC Tourism Will Reach 150 Million Annual Visitors, And Why It Matters
Gulf Times Now EditorialWhen Saudi Arabia announced a target of 150 million annual tourist arrivals by 2030, the ambition was widely described as bold,...
Saudi Aramco and SABIC Integration: Reshaping the Global Petrochemicals Landscape
Saudi Aramco's acquisition of a 70% stake in Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) from the Public Investment Fund was one of the most significant...
From Sponsorship to Strategy: How Gulf Businesses Use Formula 1 Partnerships
Formula 1 has become one of the most powerful marketing platforms for Gulf businesses, offering global broadcast reach, access to the premium decision-maker demographic,...
