About $650 billion in trade flows are affected, with global maritime routes facing growing disruption and uncertainty risks.

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries continue to strengthen their position in global energy markets, supported by extensive natural resources, advanced infrastructure and sector expertise, according to data released by the GCC Statistical Centre. The data show that the region’s energy strategy is increasingly expanding beyond oil and gas production and...

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

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...

Despite trillions managed by GCC sovereign wealth funds, late-stage venture capital remains scarce, leaving startups stranded between early traction and scalable commercial growth.

The world has known the Middle East for its oil. But a new fuel is taking the main stage: knowledge, AI, digital assets, says Nicole Valentine, the FinTech director at Milken Institute Finance, in an interview with TRENDS.

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.

Despite fierce branding as rivals, Gulf startup hubs share capital, policy, and talent structures that are quietly shaping distinct, globally ambitious growth paths.

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.

In an interview with TRENDS, Josh Lerner says Gulf economies pursuing diversification must recognize that transformation takes time, patience, and resilience through inevitable ups and downs.

Amazon Ads is evolving from a marketing channel into a business-building engine, helping GCC startups use full-funnel advertising, retail media intelligence, and AI to scale globally, says Rayan Karaky in an interview with TRENDS.

Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO of Stagwell, explains how AI and global tech partnerships are reshaping marketing and the GCC’s knowledge economy.

Nikita Matsokin, Executive Director of MGVC (MY.GAMES, shares his thoughts on the MENA region’s creative talent, government support, and rapid innovation shaping the future of global gaming and driving new opportunities for developers.

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

AI fluency is not prioritized enough in schools today. If AI skills are not on your resume, you will have a very difficult time finding a job in the future, says Klaus Kohlmayr, Chief Evangelist and Development Officer at IDeaS.

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

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%

Muscat, Oman -- The GCC countries have seen a steady rise in foreign investment, according to data from the Statistical Center for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC-Stat). In 2023, inbound foreign direct investment (excluding intra-GCC flows) totaled approximately US$523.4 billion, accounting for about 80...

In Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, digital content creation is a key pillar of economic transformation, and Qatar National Vision 2030 too  identifies digital creators as essential for building a knowledge-based economy

Muscat, Oman -- The latest data released by the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (GCC-Stat) showed that the value of gross national income (the total income earned by citizens and companies) of the GCC countries at current prices in 2023 amounted to...

Zakopane, Poland -- Saudi photographer Fahad Alayyash gazed over the Alpine-like panorama of the Tatras, Poland's highest mountain range -- and a surprising new hotspot for Arab tourists. The 38-year-old is among thousands of Gulf residents spending their summer vacation in Zakopane, a resort known for its ski lifts and...

Muscat, Oman -- The nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries reached US$587.8 billion by the end of the fourth quarter of 2024, up from US$579 billion at the end of the fourth quarter of 2023, reflecting a growth rate of 1.5 percent. The latest...

As most currencies in the region are pegged to the US dollar, monetary policy follows the decisions taken in Washington, with policymakers opting to lock the rate at the level it has been since December.

Qatar's foreign reserves rise 3.6 percent year-on-year despite a dip in bonds and treasury holdings, Iraq releases Australian and Egyptian engineers and other developments.

As the region pivots toward a post-oil future, recent developments across the Middle East and North Africa suggest an accelerating shift—driven by policy ambition, digital reform, and investment recalibration.

 Dubai, UAE -- The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has kicked off 2025 with a remarkable surge in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity, according to the latest EY MENA M&A Insights 2024 report. The first quarter of the year saw a substantial 31 percent increase in deal volume,...

The trade-dependent economies are looking to insulate themselves after US President Donald Trump blew up global trade norms by announcing a slew of tariffs targeting countries around the world this year.

Muscat, Oman -- The general inflation rate in the GCC countries rose by 1.7 percent at the end of December 2024 compared to the figures recorded during same month of the previous year, according to the Consumer Price data released by the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the...

The Franklin Templeton Emerging Markets Equity outlook emphasizes how GCC countries have reduced their dependence on oil and gas, opened their capital markets, and diversified their economies — all underpinned by strong fiscal positions that bolster investor confidence.

Muscat, Oman -- Travel and tourism sector's contribution to the Gulf's GDP by the end of 2024 reached approximately 11.4 percent, with a value of $247.1 billion. The latest data released by the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (GCC-Stat) indicated that the growth rate...

Private sector, governments, and nonprofits must invest in AI education, Jason Alan Snyder tells TRENDS in an exclusive interview.

A study by the World Economic Forum reveals that AI could replace around 85 million jobs by 2025

Partnerships with institutions like the Victoria & Albert Museum, Venice Biennale, and Hollywood productions elevate the GCC’s cultural landscape.

IoT applications are transforming critical sectors such as transportation, where connected vehicles improve traffic management, utilities where smart grids enhance energy efficiency, and healthcare, where remote monitoring optimizes patient care.

The framework for future-proofing tourism revolves around three core pillars: People, Planet, and Purpose. This vision is particularly evident in the GCC, where a people-first transformation is taking place.

The region leverages a strategic major hub, advanced infrastructure, and economic diversification to fuel logistics demand, says Janardan Dalmia, Founder and CEO at Trukkin, a leading UAE-based logistics firm.

The global logistics market is expected to be around US$10 trillion in 2024, and is estimated to reach US$21.91 trillion by 2033, registering a healthy CAGR growth of 9.35 percent from 2024 until 2033.

The GCC luxury market segment has experienced significant growth, driven by an increase in the number of high-net-worth individuals. Accommodating them requires new thinking. Michael Belton, CEO of MERED, explains.

PwC forecasts that AI could contribute US$320 billion to Middle Eastern economies by 2030, with healthcare predicted to see some of the largest gains relative to its current size

Dubai, UAE -- TRENDS’ yearly Special Issue is out. This year’s edition, titled Future of Humanity, explores key global shifts and brings together expert insights on old and new forces shaping our world. The edition delves into transformative themes such as GCC’s leadership in urbanization, smart cities, and logistics, as...

DAVOS, Switzerland -- Bilel Al Souaied is an entrepreneur and venture capitalist. He is the COO of Cytomate, a leading provider of security posture management and threat intelligence products. Bilel is attending Davos with the Global Shavers Community, a World Economic Forum initiative and the only youth delegation participating in...

The burgeoning creator economy presents an unprecedented opportunity for GCC to outpace global cities and establish itself as the epicenter of next-generation content, said Julien Hawari, CEO Million.

Muscat, Oman - The population of the six GCC countries reached 57.6 million in 2023, compared to 56.6 million in 2022. Males accounted for 62.4% of the total population, while females made up 37.6%. The report also indicates that the population density was 23.9 people per square kilometre, with the...

Five of seven GCC equity market indices under coverage ended 2024 on the rise, according to an in-depth report on GCC equity markets.  Dubai Financial Market (DFM) led its peers, wrapping up 2024 with an annual rise of 27%

While developing countries paid a record US$1.4 trillion to service debts, the non-oil sectors in the GCC countries are fueling growth and diversification,

Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah called on the international community to implement "an immediate ceasefire, providing international protection for innocent civilians and ensuring the opening of safe corridors and the arrival of urgent humanitarian aid".

Now, the region is turning its attention to newer innovations, including hydrogen production, small modular reactors (SMRs), and compact nuclear power generators.

Experts from the United Nations have warned that Israel might become a pariah state, and its UN membership is under question as Tel Aviv continues to commit genocide in Gaza killing more than 40,000 people since October 7, 2023. Experts also reprimanded the Western countries for double standards on Netanyahu’s...

In an interview with TRENDS, CEO of ITCN Asia, Muhammad Umair Nizam highlights the expanding role of Pakistani IT firms in the GCC tech landscape.