Tag: GCC

GCC stock markets in 2026 present a tale of sharp divergence: Dubai's DFM rose 17.2 per cent in 2025 and Abu Dhabi's ADX gained 6 per cent, while Saudi Arabia's Tadawul fell 13 per cent — its worst annual performance in a decade — creating contrasting opportunities for investors across the region.

Gold has pulled back from its recent high of $1,919 per ounce, trading closer to $1,859 as geopolitical premium fades, while COMEX copper futures reached a record $6.7160 per pound in May 2026 — a divergence in commodity markets that carries specific implications for Gulf investors.

Kuwait and Oman each posted GDP growth of between 2.6 and 2.9 per cent, with both countries implementing accelerated economic diversification strategies — including Kuwait's fuel reserve expansion and Oman's utility-scale solar-plus-storage projects — to reduce dependence on hydrocarbon revenues.

The GCC general aviation market, currently valued at $1.48 billion, is projected to reach $2.95 billion by 2031 at a 14.79 per cent CAGR, with eVTOL aircraft emerging as the fastest-growing segment at 17.21 per cent annually.

GCC countries are achieving record-breaking solar electricity costs of between 1.04 and 1.32 US cents per kWh — the lowest in the world — driven by exceptional solar irradiation and government-backed investment, as the region positions itself as a future green hydrogen exporter.