Liquidity-management instrument availability for Islamic banks has expanded across many core markets over the past decade, supporting funding needs, according to Fitch Ratings. However, gaps remain relative to conventional banks, more so in countries where Islamic banks remain niche.
In a major move, Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager, is set to open its office in Kuwait during the third quarter of 2026, as it expands its presence in the region. The New York-based group plans to open additional offices across the GCC over the coming year.
Affluent GCC travellers are booking private flights later than ever, with XO forecasting August 1–2 as the busiest weekend of the 2026 summer season, as flexibility shapes travel decisions amid evolving family and business commitments.
GCC states have achieved advanced IMD World Competitiveness global rankings across key indicators including - economic performance, government efficiency, business competitiveness and infrastructure - underscoring the impact of reforms aimed at boosting growth and attracting investment.
AIREV, the Abu Dhabi-based creator of the OnDemand autonomous AI platform, has signed an agreement with Redington, a leading technology aggregator and innovation catalyst, to distribute its agentic AI platform, OnDemand, across the GCC and the whole of Africa.
Corporate profitability across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is expected to come under pressure through the end of 2026 as the prolonged Middle East conflict drives up logistics costs, weakens business confidence and delays investment, according to a new report by S&P Global Ratings.
Novo Nordisk, a leading global healthcare company headquartered in Denmark, has appointed Venkat Kalyan as the new General Manager for its Gulf operations. An industry veteran, he brings nearly 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sector to this new role.
The population of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states is estimated to have reached around 62.8 million in 2025, an average annual growth rate of 3.5% during the 2022-2025 period, according to data issued by the GCC Statistical Center (GCC-Stat).
Perk (formerly TravelPerk), an AI-native platform for travel and spend management, has announced the opening of its regional office at Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). The move formalises Perk's long-term commitment to the GCC region, targeting a tripling of business travel spend from UAE customers by 2028.
The durability of the US–Iran ceasefire and prospects for a permanent de-escalation are central to whether Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) banking systems remain resilient to the impacts of the conflict, Fitch Ratings says.
