Most economies saw forecasts downgraded as rising energy costs, inflation and borrowing expenses create fresh challenges for growth and development worldwide.

According to the latest Vision 2030 annual report, the real non-oil GDP reached $892 billion against a target of $904 billion, while foreign direct investment accounted for 2.8% of GDP, below the government's 3.4% objective.

According to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), all major economic sectors recorded positive annual growth during the quarter, reflecting continued momentum in the kingdom's economic diversification drive.

Dubai, UAE -- China’s foreign exchange reserves rose to $3.4422 trillion at the end of May, their highest level in several months, as a weaker U.S. dollar and changes in global asset prices boosted the value of the country's holdings, official data showed on Sunday. The reserves increased by $31.7...

Dubai, UAE -- Global cereal production is expected to decline by 2% in the 2026/27 season to 2.982 billion tons, largely due to lower wheat harvests, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said in its latest Cereal Supply and Demand Brief. The projected decline follows a record 3.043...

Dubai, UAE -- Annual inflation across the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) accelerated to 4.4% in April from 4.0% in March, driven by a sharp rise in energy prices and higher consumer costs across most member countries. Headline inflation increased in 23 OECD countries, with the largest rises...

A report published by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and consulting firm Oliver Wyman found that fragmentation accelerated through 2025 and 2026 as governments expanded tariffs, investment controls and other economic security measures.

Non-oil activities drove growth as construction, finance, real estate and transport sectors posted robust gains, underscoring diversification efforts and long-term economic development goals.

United States forces said they have attacked missile launch sites and mine-laying vessels in southern Iran, in what a US military spokesman described as “self-defence” strikes. Earlier, Iranian media reported explosions in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas.

The PMI report finds that MENA will require up to 330,794 construction project management professionals by 2035 under a high-growth scenario, a 32% increase in demand compared with 2025 levels.

Bitcoin has already endured five consecutive months of declines since reaching an all-time high of $126,500 in October 2025. February marked the fifth straight negative month, reflecting sustained selling pressure and deteriorating sentiment across the sector, writes Simon Peters, Crypto Analyst at eToro.

The asymmetry at the heart of this war’s economic geography is stark. The US imports relatively little oil through Hormuz. More than 80% of oil and LNG shipped through the strait in 2024 went to Asian markets, with China, India, Japan and South Korea the primary destinations, he adds.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell signalled a cautious approach, noting that elevated energy prices and geopolitical tensions could complicate the inflation outlook, even as markets continue to expect potential easing later in the year.

Kelsey Goodman of the World Economic Forum discusses Strait of Hormuz disruptions, global trade risks, and how GCC economies can turn crisis into opportunity.

Several ports suspended operations in the Middle East after drone strikes. DP World said operations at Jebel Ali port in Dubai, one of the world's busiest container ports, had been suspended due to a fire after "aerial interception," he adds.

There are, of course, technical hurdles to overcome, too, one of which is modernizing legacy systems. Many enterprises still operate on outdated infrastructures that simply weren’t designed for the demands of modern, data-driven intelligence.

Lale Akoner, Global Market Analyst, says while the escalation has introduced new risks, the broader investment case for equities in 2026 remains intact—though the path forward has become more dependent on macroeconomic factors.

The escalating conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States is emerging as a major test for the Gulf’s sovereign wealth funds, which collectively manage around $5 trillion in global assets

Muscat, Oman -- Gulf Cooperation Council countries recorded strong performance in agriculture, livestock and fisheries during 2024, reflecting the growing role of these sectors in supporting food security and economic diversification. Data released by the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf showed the...

The dollar still functions as the world’s primary safe haven, and in moments of acute geopolitical uncertainty, capital flows toward US assets, particularly when positioning had been stretched against it.

Jamil Shinawi, CEO and Co-founder of AHOY and co-founder of Actual VC, speaks to TRENDS about risk, capital efficiency, and building scalable ventures in MENA.

Fahad AlSharekh says the GCC’s edge isn’t startup mimicry but global investment power — backing AI, infrastructure and category leaders early, not chasing hype.

Futuristic, lifestyle-changing entrepreneurial ideas are targeting liquid GCC markets, where hyperscalers and deep-pocketed sovereign and private investors and family offices fuel growth ambitions.

With national campaigns such as The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World setting targets of training 10,000 Emiratis and creating 10 unicorns, the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) is emerging as a key engine driving this shift.

Dubai faces substantial supply headwinds that may absorb currency-driven demand without triggering significant price gains. Approximately 45,000-50,000 new residential units are expected in 2025-2026, with vacancy rates elevated in older secondary locations, he adds.

The GCC is competing to build world-class technology hubs, investing heavily in AI, infrastructure, and sovereign capital to drive digital transformation, attract global partners, and position the region as a leading innovation powerhouse.

The GCC has quickly moved from passive capital allocation into active ecosystem building, spurred on by heavy sovereign capital and large infrastructure bets, setting the region apart from Europe and US markets. 

Titled Creative Futures: The Springboard for Sustained Economic Growth and Diversification, the report argues that cultural and creative industries — including film, music, design, gaming — have moved from the margins of economic policy to its core.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE are leading the gaming surge with world-class ecosystems and youth-driven expansion. Across the region, governments increasingly recognize gaming and esports as key drivers of future economies.

By pairing sovereign capital with frictionless regulation, Doha reversed the startup playbook, attracting investors and founders first, then letting an ecosystem form around them naturally

Over the next five years, knowledge and innovation will redefine the MENA region’s economic landscape, moving it beyond traditional resource dependence, says Mark Mortensen, Associate Dean and Professor of Organizational Behavior at INSEAD.

A visiting Qatari official on Monday announced a multi-million dollar aid package for Lebanon, primarily to support the country's crumbling electricity sector.

Saudi Arabia is seeking to leverage changes in global trade and supply chains to position itself as a “connector economy,” linking Africa, Europe and Asia, senior Saudi ministers said during discussions at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos.

Florin Vasvari of London Business School says a knowledge economy requires educated local talent, global expertise and supportive regulation, tax incentives and access to capital, in an interview to TRENDS.

Joseph Bradley, former CEO of Tonomus, shares with TRENDS his views on how AI and leadership can help MENA build smarter, future-ready economies.

AI, geopolitics, climate, and demographics are reshaping the Middle East’s growth model beyond oil.

Dr. Lolowa AlMarzooqi, Associate Vice Provost at New York University Abu Dhabi, tells TRENDS that the UAE’s real competitive edge lies in its people and how the country’s approach to talent, leadership, and lifelong learning is shaping its next phase of growth.

The government has successfully implemented more than 900 reforms, including restructuring legal and labor frameworks, establishing new public authorities, and significantly expanding women’s participation in the workforce.

In its latest Chief Economists’ Outlook, the WEF said 53 percent of surveyed economists expect global economic conditions to weaken in the year ahead, down from 72 percent in September 2025, signaling cautious optimism amid persistent uncertainty.

Gerd Leonhard, CEO of the Futures Agency and author of Technology vs. Humanity, tells TRENDS that humanity is hurtling toward a clash between man and machine.

The Gulf economies face disruptions but embrace risk to grow, says Tadeu Baldani Caravieri, founder of Prototypes for Humanity, on regional innovation trends.

The bank expects world GDP growth of 2.6 percent this year, according to its latest global economic prospects report. The figure is 0.2 percentage points higher than what it projected in June.

This year’s edition is expected to welcome more than 30,000 participants from over 120 countries, including 1,500 startups, 700 investors and 600 media representatives—making it the largest Web Summit to date.

Oil prices have experienced choppy trading since the surprise US raid Saturday on Caracas that saw Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife taken to New York.

Iran has been rocked this week by protests that started in Tehran and have spread to other cities, with at least six people killed in clashes with security forces.

The Middle East and North Africa region is expected to outperform the global economy in 2026, with GDP projected to grow by 3.6% year on year compared to global growth of 3.1%

Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa unveiled on Monday new banknotes replacing those showing ousted ruler Bashar al-Assad and his family, hoping the Syrian pound can regain some of the value lost to over a decade of war.

Beijing, China -- China will on January 1 launch an "action plan" for boosting management and operations of its digital currency, a deputy governor of the country's central bank said Monday. "The future digital yuan will be a modern digital payment and circulation means issued and circulated within the financial...

Early signals hint that Web Summit Qatar 2026 will be its biggest edition yet, with participation expected to outpace the inaugural year and draw more global investors.

Moving forward, lower oil revenues will continue to pose challenges to the Saudi economy and its overall targets. Earlier this month, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that Saudi Arabia faces a new test: how to sustain reform momentum in an era of potentially lower oil revenues without slipping back...