The global GDP is projected to surge 2.8% in 2026, led by stronger momentum in the US and resilient exports from China, while the euro zone benefits from targeted fiscal support despite longer-term challenges, said Goldman Sachs Research in its new report.
The total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the GCC states at current prices rose 3 percent to $588.1 billion in the first quarter of 2025 from $570.9 billion a year earlier, data from the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC-Stat) showed on Monday.
The contribution of Saudi Arabia's private sector to the gross domestic product (GDP) has doubled in ten years, rising from SAR1.1 trillion ($293.31 billion) in 2016 to about SAR2.3 trillion ($613.28 billion) today, said Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih.
Bahrain continues to adopt a balanced approach that integrates environmental sustainability with economic development, said Dr Mohamed bin Mubarak Bin Daina, Minister of Oil and Environment and Special Envoy for Climate Affairs.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia stands to benefit from the ongoing shifts in global supply chains - from fair trade to a managed and rule-driven trade model - as it can play a vital role as a connector economy linking Africa with Europe and Asia, said its economy minister.
For economies to remain competitive in the future, they must prioritise investments in human capital, Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the US, told the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos.
A new VisitBritain/VisitEngland report, Economic Value of Tourism in the United Kingdom, highlights tourism’s crucial role in the UK economy, contributing £147 billion ($198 billion) annually—around 5 per cent of GDP—through direct and supply chain impacts.
The global economy has shown resilience amid turbulence during the past year, including shifting trade policies – yet growth remains subdued and far below pre-pandemic levels, the UN said in a landmark report. The global economic output will be slightly below the 2.8% estimated for 2025.
