Brent crude price
About $117 a barrelOct 23, 2026Reuters (via Euronext)The Gulf Ledger / Data desk
The Gulf by the Numbers.
A source-led view of the six Gulf economies, with the measurement date and source beside every number.
Last updatedOct 23, 2026
Key figures
The latest regional signals at a glance.
US Fed rate
3.75%–4.00%Sep 17, 2026Sada News AgencyTotal Gulf sovereign fund assets
About $6 trillionJan 6, 2026Enterprise, citing Global SWFLatest update
Oct 23, 2026Oct 23, 2026Reuters (via Euronext)Currency
How each currency is fixed against the US dollar.
| Metric |  Qatar |  Saudi Arabia |  UAE |  Kuwait |  Oman |  Bahrain | Regional |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate against the US dollarFive GCC currencies are fixed to the US dollar; Kuwait uses a basket of currencies. These rates have not changed in decades. | 3.64 riyals per $1 | 3.75 riyals per $1 | 3.6725 dirhams per $1 | Pegged to a basket (includes the dollar) | 0.3845 rials per $1 | 0.376 dinars per $1 | — |
Exchange rate against the US dollar
Oct 19, 2026Five GCC currencies are fixed to the US dollar; Kuwait uses a basket of currencies. These rates have not changed in decades.
- Qatar
- 3.64 riyals per $1
- Saudi Arabia
- 3.75 riyals per $1
- UAE
- 3.6725 dirhams per $1
- Kuwait
- Pegged to a basket (includes the dollar)
- Oman
- 0.3845 rials per $1
- Bahrain
- 0.376 dinars per $1
Energy
Oil prices and gas exports.
| Metric | Qatar | Saudi Arabia | UAE | Kuwait | Oman | Bahrain | Regional |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LNG export statusQatarEnergy has been under force majeure since March 2026 because of the Hormuz disruption. | Force majeure; cargo cancellations through November 2026 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
LNG export status
Sep 28, 2026QatarEnergy has been under force majeure since March 2026 because of the Hormuz disruption.
- Qatar
- Force majeure; cargo cancellations through November 2026
- Saudi Arabia
- —
- UAE
- —
- Kuwait
- —
- Oman
- —
- Bahrain
- —
Brent crude oil price
Brent settled at $116.72 on Friday, October 23, its highest close since April 29 and about 6% higher on the week, after Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and an oil spill off the UAE. Updated weekly.
Growth
IMF forecasts for each economy.
| Metric | Qatar | Saudi Arabia | UAE | Kuwait | Oman | Bahrain | Regional |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMF real GDP growth forecast, 2026The IMF expects sharp contractions in 2026 because of the prolonged Hormuz closure. It assumes the strait gradually reopens from March 2027. | -15.6% | -3.3% | -3.9% | -16.7% | +4.1% | -11.3% | — |
| IMF real GDP growth forecast, 2027Large rebounds are forecast as exports recover from a low 2026 base. | +18.8% | +7.9% | +7.7% | +17.1% | +2.2% | +13.9% | — |
IMF real GDP growth forecast, 2026
Oct 13, 2026The IMF expects sharp contractions in 2026 because of the prolonged Hormuz closure. It assumes the strait gradually reopens from March 2027.
- Qatar
- -15.6%
- Saudi Arabia
- -3.3%
- UAE
- -3.9%
- Kuwait
- -16.7%
- Oman
- +4.1%
- Bahrain
- -11.3%
IMF real GDP growth forecast, 2027
Oct 13, 2026Large rebounds are forecast as exports recover from a low 2026 base.
- Qatar
- +18.8%
- Saudi Arabia
- +7.9%
- UAE
- +7.7%
- Kuwait
- +17.1%
- Oman
- +2.2%
- Bahrain
- +13.9%
Interest rates
Central bank policy rates, which track the US Fed.
| Metric | Qatar | Saudi Arabia | UAE | Kuwait | Oman | Bahrain | Regional |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main central bank policy rateFive Gulf central banks raised rates by 0.25 points on September 16–17, 2026, after the US Fed raised its rate. Kuwait held at 3.50% because its dinar is pegged to a basket of currencies, not only the dollar. | 4.35% (repo) | 4.50% (repo) | 3.90% (base rate) | 3.50% (discount rate) | 4.50% (repo) | 4.50% (overnight deposit) | 3.75%–4.00% |
Main central bank policy rate
Sep 17, 2026Five Gulf central banks raised rates by 0.25 points on September 16–17, 2026, after the US Fed raised its rate. Kuwait held at 3.50% because its dinar is pegged to a basket of currencies, not only the dollar.
- Qatar
- 4.35% (repo)
- Saudi Arabia
- 4.50% (repo)
- UAE
- 3.90% (base rate)
- Kuwait
- 3.50% (discount rate)
- Oman
- 4.50% (repo)
- Bahrain
- 4.50% (overnight deposit)
Taxes
What people and businesses pay.
| Metric | Qatar | Saudi Arabia | UAE | Kuwait | Oman | Bahrain | Regional |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal income taxOman will be the first GCC country to tax personal income, applying only to high earners. | None | None | None | None | 5% on income above OMR 42,000, from 2028 | None | — |
| Value-added tax (VAT) rateQatar and Kuwait signed the GCC VAT agreement but have not introduced the tax. | No VAT | 15% | 5% | No VAT | 5% | 10% | — |
Personal income tax
Oct 19, 2026Oman will be the first GCC country to tax personal income, applying only to high earners.
- Qatar
- None
- Saudi Arabia
- None
- UAE
- None
- Kuwait
- None
- Oman
- 5% on income above OMR 42,000, from 2028
- Bahrain
- None
Value-added tax (VAT) rate
Oct 19, 2026Qatar and Kuwait signed the GCC VAT agreement but have not introduced the tax.
- Qatar
- No VAT
- Saudi Arabia
- 15%
- UAE
- 5%
- Kuwait
- No VAT
- Oman
- 5%
- Bahrain
- 10%
Wealth funds
How much the Gulf's state investors manage.
| Metric | Qatar | Saudi Arabia | UAE | Kuwait | Oman | Bahrain | Regional |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assets of state-owned investorsTotals for all state-owned investors in each country, as estimated by Global SWF at the start of 2026. | Not published in source | $2.2 trillion (PIF alone: $1.2 trillion) | $2.9 trillion | $1.2 trillion | Not published in source | Not published in source | About $6 trillion |
Assets of state-owned investors
Jan 6, 2026Totals for all state-owned investors in each country, as estimated by Global SWF at the start of 2026.
- Qatar
- Not published in source
- Saudi Arabia
- $2.2 trillion (PIF alone: $1.2 trillion)
- UAE
- $2.9 trillion
- Kuwait
- $1.2 trillion
- Oman
- Not published in source
- Bahrain
- Not published in source