Bahrain’s gross domestic product (GDP) at constant prices grew 3.5% YoY in 2025, driven by a 4.1% growth in non-oil activities, while oil activities declined slightly by 0.3%.
The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) has issued directives to retail banks and financing companies regarding the deferral of loan instalments and credit card payments, as part of the loan deferral and liquidity support programme.
After withstanding higher trade barriers and elevated uncertainty last year, global activity now faces a major test from the outbreak of war in the Middle East, which threatens to disrupt growth, says the latest World Economic Outlook report from IMF.
The Middle East war could lead to total and partial loss events for a small number of rated sukuk, particularly where they have underlying assets targeted by attacks. Those backed by industrial or commercial real estate are the most vulnerable, according to S&P Global Ratings.
GCC economies are set for a sharp rebound, with growth forecast to reach 8.5% in 2027, according to ICAEW’s latest Economic Insight Q1 2026 report, produced in partnership with Oxford Economics.
Quarterly net profits reported by companies listed on GCC exchanges witnessed a sharp sequential decline and reached the lowest level in 12 quarters during Q4-2025, said a Kamco research report.
Atradius, a global leader in trade credit insurance and risk management with over 100 years of experience in the credit insurance industry, has established its operations in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), thus marking a significant milestone in its Middle East growth strategy.
With all that is going on in the region, July might feel like a lifetime away. And so, when it comes to the UAE’s eInvoicing mandate, many organisations will be tempted to wait, perhaps even hope for a soft landing or informal grace period, as has been seen with previous regulatory changes.
Emirates Development Bank (EDB), the UAE's key financial engine for economic diversification, has announced it is actively deploying an average of AED20 million ($5.45 million) in financing every single day to ensure that businesses across the nation continue to operate without disruption.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Finance has announced the commencement of the Financial Control Law, issued by the Council of Ministers under Resolution No. (M/122), on December 1, 2025.
