Photo Credit: X/@GCCStat
Dubai, UAE — November 2025 — The Gulf Cooperation Council counties have attracted $523.4 billion in foreign direct investment, underscoring a steady rise in international capital inflows.
According to data released by the GCC’s Statistical Center and reported by the Emirates News Agency, this figure represents about 80 percent of the region’s foreign investment stock.
It confirms growing international confidence in the Gulf’s business environment and accounted for roughly 5 percent of all global investment flows in 2023.
The volume of investments between the GCC nations themselves has also seen substantial growth, increasing from $88.2 billion in 2015 to $130.3 billion in 2023.
This intra-GCC investment now constitutes 20 percent of the total foreign investment stock, a surge attributed to major developments in infrastructure and technology, as well as the adoption of modern legislation that has enhanced the region’s status as a global investment hub.
In other economic indicators, the GCC’s external merchandise trade recorded a slight growth of 1.1 percent in 2024, even as average oil prices declined from $82.5 per barrel in 2023 to $80.5.
This resilience was supported by a significant increase in non-oil exports, reflecting progress in diversifying the export base, and continued growth in re-export activities, facilitated by the region’s advanced logistical hubs.
On the fiscal front, the GCC’s public revenues amounted to approximately $670.2 billion in 2024, marking a 2 percent annual increase. Public spending reached $659.3 billion, reflecting the Gulf governments’ commitment to fiscal consolidation and directing expenditures toward development, infrastructure, and social protection.
A key development has been the increased contribution of non-oil revenues to total public income, driven by the implementation of indirect taxes such as value-added tax and excise taxes, alongside improved revenue collection efficiency through digital transformation.
These measures have helped contain public debt and reduce its servicing burden on government budgets.
Furthermore, Gulf capital market indicators showed a positive performance in 2024, with market capitalization rising to around $4.2 trillion despite global market uncertainty from tighter monetary policies in the United States.
This positive performance was supported by improved corporate profits, lower inflation levels, and the continued flow of institutional investments into key sectors.
