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.
Even as AI spending surges, few banks have established the necessary governance and guardrails – and nearly half misjudge their own AI readiness, says a study.
Corporate lending is at the core of Saudi banking sector's growth, accounting for 55% of banks' loan books. Despite this, exposure to corporate credit risk will remain contained thanks to a moderate improvement in corporate leverage, according to S&P Global Ratings.
The credit impact of a potential escalation between Iran and the US will remain contained, similar to June 2025 (targeted and limited in scale and duration), says S&P Global Ratings in a published report.
