Gulf

The Kuwait Investment Authority has grown its assets under management to an estimated USD 969 billion in 2026, maintaining its position as one of the world's five largest sovereign wealth funds and continuing its strategy of diversifying Kuwait's national wealth across global equities, private equity and infrastructure.

Bahrain has emerged as the Gulf's leading fintech destination, with FinTech Bay hosting over 500 registered companies across Islamic finance, payments, digital banking and insurtech sectors — supported by the Central Bank of Bahrain's sandbox regime, the most permissive in the region.

Salalah Free Zone has broken export records in 2026, with its strategic location between Asia, Africa and Europe positioning Oman's southern port city as a critical logistics hub, attracting investment from global manufacturers and logistics companies seeking a GCC base with direct Indian Ocean access.

Dubai International Financial Centre has reached 6,500 active registered companies in 2026, surpassing London as the world's leading financial centre for emerging market connectivity, with a combined ecosystem value exceeding USD 12 billion and record new firm registrations.

The UAE Central Bank projects 5.6% GDP growth for 2026, with banking sector assets exceeding AED 5.472 trillion, credit rising to AED 2.63 trillion, and non-oil foreign trade hitting AED 2,530 billion in the first nine months of 2025 — while Moody's and S&P maintain top-tier credit ratings.