Gulf Briefing

Oman's Muscat property market recorded 18% price growth in 2025 and is maintaining momentum in 2026, driven by Gulf investors diversifying beyond Dubai, Asian buyers attracted by Oman's residency-by-investment programme, and a growing expatriate professional community drawn by Oman's rising business environment rankings.

Dubai has set up dedicated World Cup 2026 fan zones and screening events across JBR, DIFC, Downtown and Jumeirah Beach as Saudi Arabia takes on Uruguay tonight. Here is the complete guide to the best venues — from free public screenings to premium sports bars — where you can watch the match live in the UAE.

Saudi Arabia faces Uruguay in their Group H opener at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Miami tonight — a match with enormous significance for Saudi football, Gulf pride and billions watching across the Middle East. Here is everything you need to know: key players, tactical matchup, historical record and how to watch live.

GCC neobanks and digital banking platforms have collectively surpassed 15 million customers in 2026, led by UAE's Wio Bank and YAP and Saudi Arabia's STC Pay and Tabby, as the Gulf's young, tech-savvy population drives a digital finance revolution that is reshaping the region's banking landscape.

Abu Dhabi has issued a USD 2 billion sovereign green sukuk as the UAE accelerates its position as the Arab world's largest sustainable finance market, with total green and sustainable bond issuances from the UAE exceeding USD 30 billion since 2019, drawing ESG-focused capital from Europe and Asia into Gulf infrastructure projects.

QatarEnergy's North Field East LNG expansion — the world's largest LNG project — has completed Phase A at a cost of USD 28.7 billion, adding 32 million tonnes per year of new capacity and positioning Qatar to produce 126 million tonnes of LNG annually by 2027, cementing its lead as the world's largest LNG exporter.

Saudi Arabia's NEOM megaproject has opened its first residential district for early residents and workers in 2026, with THE LINE's mirrored facade structure advancing in the Tabuk desert and the broader NEOM development receiving USD 500 billion in committed investment as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman accelerates Vision 2030 delivery.

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.