GCC Bank deposits hit $2.3tn
Commercial bank assets across the Gulf Cooperation Council rose to more than $3.9 trillion at the end of 2025, up 11.9 percent from a year earlier, according to the bloc’s Secretary-General.
Bank deposits increased 10.6 percent year-on-year to $2.3 trillion, while net foreign assets held by GCC central banks climbed 10.5 percent to $842 billion, reflecting continued liquidity growth across the region’s financial system.
GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi presented the figures at the 86th Meeting of the Committee of Central Bank Governors in Manama, saying sustained economic strength depends on closer policy coordination among member states.
The balance sheet growth comes as listed Gulf banks reported record third-quarter profits. GCC banks posted a combined $16.6 billion in net income in the third quarter of 2025, up 11.6 percent from a year earlier and marking a third consecutive quarterly increase, according to a Kamco Invest report in December, as credit conditions improved across the region.
From financial scam, 4 steps Gulf countries are taking to protect people
More than 40,000 United Arab Emirates residents lost money to a scam in 2023, with an average loss of $2,194 suffered by a third of respondents to a survey carried out in 2024. And 60 percent of these victims sought reimbursement but received nothing. Financial crime isn’t just about losing money, however, it can also have serious legal repercussions
Financial crime is often regarded as victimless, only really impacting financial institutions and wider economies, but its true cost is deeply human. It can affect people, families and communities.
Economic growth across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region means organizations and people are increasingly at risk of being drawn into fraudulent schemes, sometimes without realising the consequences of their actions.
GCC chambers plan gulf guarantee project
The Federation of GCC Chambers, in cooperation with the Customs Union Authority, intends to launch the Gulf Guarantee Project to provide a unified mechanism for exports and trade transactions and to enhance the efficiency of intra-GCC trade, which reached about $146 billion by the end of 2024, Saleh Al-Sharqi, Secretary-General of the federation, told Al-Eqtisadiah.
Al-Sharqi said, on the sidelines of his meeting with media representatives at the federation’s headquarters in Dammam, that the initiative represents a qualitative leap in supporting intra-GCC trade by facilitating transit movement through a single point, contributing to cost reduction, accelerating the flow of goods, and enhancing the reliability of trade operations among Gulf markets.
Forum enhances healthcare service efficiency: Oman
The Muscat Health Leadership Forum, held under the auspices of Dr Hilal bin Ali al Sabti, Minister of Health, featured the presentation of a comprehensive package of qualitative initiatives that have enhanced healthcare service efficiency and elevated patient experience.
Foremost among these initiatives was the ‘Your Appointment, Your Time’ programme, which successfully reduced waiting times and increased adherence rates to appointments in specialised clinics, reaffirming that patients’ time is a priority and service quality remains central.
Healthcare teams also showcased a range of institutional improvement projects, the implementation of Lean methodology, digital transformation efforts in nursing, as well as patient flow management systems. In addition, sustainability initiatives, scientific research, and disease prevention programmes were highlighted.
The Leadership Forum serves as a platform for exchanging expertise and presenting success stories achieved by healthcare professionals, contributing to the advancement of a more efficient and sustainable healthcare system.
Saudi arabia, UAE and Kuwait to lead GCC property growth in H1
Gulf real estate markets are expected to extend their growth into the first half of 2026, with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait leading activity, a new analysis showed.
The report by Kuwait Financial Center, also known as Markaz, said sustained momentum across the Gulf Cooperation Council will be driven by steady economic growth, improving liquidity and a more accommodative interest rate environment.
Developing a robust real estate landscape remains central to GCC governments’ diversification strategies as they seek to reduce reliance on crude revenues.
In Saudi Arabia, the Real Estate General Authority expects the Kingdom’s property market to reach $101.62 billion by 2029, with an anticipated compound annual growth rate of 8 percent from 2024.
Setting out its forecast for six months to the end of June, the report said: “Markaz expects the GCC real estate market to remain in an accelerating phase in the first half of this year.”
UAE economy projected to grow 5pc in 2026
Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, said that the UAE economy continues to achieve strong and accelerated growth, supported by a clear leadership vision, flexible and advanced legislation, and a globally competitive business environment.
In statements to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of the “Investopia Partners” event held presently in Abu Dhabi, the UAE Minister Economy and Tourism said projections indicate that the national economy will grow by more than 5 percent during the current year, alongside growth exceeding 5.5 percent in non-oil sectors, which are expected to account for 78 percent of the country’s GDP. This, he noted, reflects the resilience of the national economy and the diversity of its growth drivers.
He explained that this positive performance is driven by the country’s clear strategic vision and the continuous updating of economic legislation and policies. Over the past years, more than 40 laws and regulations governing the business ecosystem have been updated, contributing to facilitating business operations and enhancing the competitiveness of the investment environment.