GCC stock markets recorded trading in approximately 401.7 billion shares during 2025, up 19.5% over the previous year, with the value of shares traded reaching $618 billion, according to the latest data released by the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (GCC-Stat).
The general composite index measuring GCC stock market performance stood at approximately 165.2 points at the end of 2025, down 3.8% compared with the end of 2024.
The total market capitalisation of GCC stock markets reached approximately US$3.9 trillion in 2025, a decline of 6.2% compared with the previous year.
A total of 779 companies were listed on GCC stock markets. Of these, the shares of 756 companies were eligible for trading by citizens of Gulf countries on GCC markets, representing 97% of all listed companies. The proportion reached 100% on Bahrain Bourse (BHB), Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX), Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) and Boursa Kuwait.
In 2025, GCC stock markets witnessed extensive regulatory and legislative developments encompassing the regulation of capital markets and investment funds, the development of offering and listing rules, stronger corporate governance, the regulation of trading conduct and the development of market-making mechanisms, alongside the expansion of digital platforms and financial technologies.
The year also saw stronger risk-based supervision and oversight, the development of financial market infrastructure and updated capital adequacy frameworks, alongside expanded sustainability disclosures and the development of regulations governing the electronic issuance of securities.
As part of efforts to strengthen GCC integration, the investment fund passporting regulations came into force as the first unified regulatory framework for a financial product across GCC countries. Work also continued on initiatives to support the listing and trading of bonds and sukuk, promote dual listings and electronic connectivity between stock exchanges, and unify investor identification numbers for GCC citizens.
