Dr. Jihad Azour, the Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund, stated that the UAE’s economy demonstrated the strongest performance among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in 2025. He highlighted that Abu Dhabi’s economic growth was the key driver of the UAE’s overall economic strength, emphasizing the nation’s ongoing commitment to enhancing economic diversification and investing in crucial sectors.
In comments made to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) during the first day of Abu Dhabi Financial Week, he noted that investment in technology and artificial intelligence is a central focus for the GCC nations. He explained that these areas are vital for the future development of the Gulf states, as the technology sector and artificial intelligence are seen as promising fields.
He acknowledged the growing importance of the financial sector within the Gulf, stating, “The role of the financial sector in the GCC is expanding, whether it relates to financial technology or deepening financial markets.”
He indicated that the global economy is experiencing significant transformations due to changes in economic policies, particularly trade policies marked by new tariffs, as well as geopolitical conditions in various regions worldwide.
Despite these shocks, the global economy has maintained a reasonable growth level; however, uncertainty remains extremely high, which typically has negative implications for economic conditions over time.
Dr. Azour pointed out that 2026 is a critical year that requires careful observation of the impacts of economic policies on inflation, economic activity, trade, and financial markets.
He further noted that the Middle East has successfully maintained stable performance despite global challenges.
This improvement can be attributed to three main factors: firstly, the GCC countries continuing to achieve solid results in the non-oil sector; secondly, the increase in oil production among the member states; and lastly, oil-importing nations benefiting from enhanced economic activity, tourism, and trade.