Fitch Ratings has affirmed Saudi Arabia's long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating at "A+" with a stable outlook, citing the kingdom's strong external balance sheets and significant fiscal buffers in the form of deposits and other public sector assets as well as resilience to recent geopolitical tensions.
Oman's General State Budget for 2026 forecasts total public expenditure of approximately RO11.977 billion ($31.15 billion), rising by 1.5 percent from the approved expenditure for 2025.
Worldwide spending on artificial intelligence (AI) is forecast to hit $2.52 trillion in 2026, up 44% over last year, said a report. The AI infrastructure is driving this boom; adding a whopping $401 billion in expenditure as technology providers continue to build out AI foundations.
Overseas travel spend by Middle East residents is expected to grow by 6% per year until the end of the decade, when it will top $60 billion, according to the latest ATM Travel Trends Report.
