GULF WEEKLY: Dubai tourism and Abu Dhabi GDP boom, Kuwait budgets a huge deficit, Omani equities surge

GULF COUNTRIES - Report 13 Feb 2026 by Justin Alexander

A skimmable summary overlaid with our analysis and links. Headlines:

* There were reports that OPEC+ might be leaning towards an April production increase.
* Market expectations of US strikes on Iran declined further, despite Trump's sending another carrier.
* Saudi Arabia appointed Fahad al-Saif as investment minister, replacing Khalid al-Falih.
* PIF held its annual private sector forum, including discussions about gigaproject priorities.
* Dubai saw a record 2m tourists in December as Europeans drove a 5% increase in 2025.
* Abu Dhabi’s GDP growth reached a 3-year high in Q3, including 7.6% for the non-oil sector.
* Moody’s lifted the UAE’s banking system outlook to Positive in response to growth and reforms.
* IHC is pooling its financial services assets, including Lunate, into a new company, Judan Financial.
* Qatar recorded a -1% of GDP deficit in 2025 as spending rose by 5.5% and revenue fell by -1.5%.
* The IMF Article IV mission to Qatar praised its fiscal management but encouraged launching a VAT.
* Kuwait is budgeting a huge -20% of GDP deficit on a $57 oil assumption and 6% spending growth.
* Oman’s equity market surged by 12% and is up 70% from its 2025 low on MSCI EM upgrade hopes.
* Bahrain’s oil production is going through a weak patch, -13% below its 2025 average in Dec & Jan.
* Bahrain held a strategic dialogue with the UAE, and the crown prince met with both MBZ and MBS.
* AirAsia announced details of its new hub in Bahrain, which will start flights in June.
* Gulf states criticized Israel’s expanded powers in the West Bank to buy land and demolish buildings.
* Databank updates: Kuwait and Qatar fiscal, Abu Dhabi and Dubai GDP, monthly oil and other data.

Now read on...

Register to sample a report

Register
Must have at least 8 characters
Sign-in
Forgot your password?
Copyright 2026 GlobalSource Partners. All rights reserved. This report is prepared for GlobalSource Partners’ clients and may not be redistributed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, retransmitted or disclosed, in whole or in part, or in any form or manner, without the express written consent of GlobalSource Partners. This report is distributed simultaneously to our website and other portals used by GlobalSource Partners. The information herein was obtained from various sources and is believed to be reliable but GlobalSource Partners does not warrant its completeness or accuracy. Neither GlobalSource Partners nor any Country Analyst, officer or employee accepts any liability whatsoever for any direct, indirect or consequential damages or losses rising from any use of this report or its contents.