Non-Oil Sector Fuels GCC Economic Expansion in 2025

Muscat: Data released by the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (GCC-Stat) indicate that the economies of the GCC member states recorded positive and balanced performance during the third quarter of 2025, with the non-oil sector leading balanced growth amid the continued structural shift toward diversifying income sources. According to Oman News Agency, the data show that the gross domestic product (GDP) of the GCC countries at current prices reached approximately USD 595.8 billion, compared to USD 583.0 billion in the corresponding quarter of 2024, achieving an annual growth rate of 2.2 percent. Meanwhile, GDP at constant prices stood at USD 474.4 billion, registering a real growth rate of 5.2 percent, indicating that economic growth was not driven solely by price increases, but by an actual rise in the volume of economic activity. The Gulf economy also recorded a quarterly growth rate (compared to the second quarter of 2025) of 1.6 percent at constant prices, reflecting sustained economic momentum. This growth was further bolstered by an accelerated shift toward a non-oil economy, with the non-oil sector contributing 78 percent of nominal GDP, compared to 22 percent from the oil sector. In terms of real GDP, the non-oil sector contributed 70.7 percent, while the oil sector accounted for 29.3 percent. This transformation reflects a relative reduction in dependence on oil and the success of economic diversification policies adopted by the GCC states. The data also show a more diversified Gulf economy, with contributions of economic activities (at current prices) distributed among various sectors, including 12.4 percent for manufacturing industries, 9.7 percent for wholesale and retail trade, 8.4 percent for construction, and 7.5 percent for public administration and defence, among others. Non-oil activities recorded strong growth rates, most notably real estate activities at 10.2 percent, accommodation and food services at 8.2 percent, wholesale and retail trade a t 8.0 percent, electricity, water, and gas at 7.4 percent, and other services at 7.3 percent. This reflects the vitality of the service economy and the growing domestic and tourism demand.