Non-Oil Growth Diverges Across the Gulf

The October business‐survey data from S&P Global highlight divergent trends across the Gulf non-oil sector: while Kuwait’s non-oil economy continues to strengthen, Qatar’s non-energy growth is decelerating and Egypt’s private-sector non-oil contraction is easing. Arab News

Kuwait Leading the Pack

In Kuwait, the PMI rose to 52.8 in October, signalling solid growth in non-oil private-sector business activity. The stronger performance is attributed to increased domestic demand, diversification efforts, and favourable government spending. Arab News
This is significant given Kuwait’s long-term goal of reducing reliance on hydrocarbons and building a more resilient economy through diversification (e.g., logistics, financial services, and manufacturing).
For businesses considering expansion in the Gulf, Kuwait’s relative momentum in the non-oil segment is a noteworthy signal.

Qatar and Egypt: Mixed Results

By contrast, Qatar’s PMI slipped to 50.6, indicating only a marginal upturn in non-energy growth. The slowdown suggests that although Qatar remains wealthy and oil-rich, its diversification efforts face headwinds from global demand and domestic constraints. Arab News
In Egypt, the PMI was recorded at 49.2, showing that the non-oil private-sector output and new orders continue to decline, but at a slower pace (an eight-month low). While this is not yet a rebound, it does provide signs of stabilisation. Arab News

Implications for Investors and Policymakers

These diverging trajectories underscore that not all Gulf economies are moving in concert. For investors, this means being selective: non-oil growth potential should be assessed country by country rather than assumed uniformly across the region.
Policy makers who aim to boost non-oil sectors must consider:

Broader Region-Wide Picture

According to an economic update by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), the GCC region’s economy is expected to grow 4.1 % in 2025, supported by oil-gains and non-oil expansion. ICAEW
But the divergence across specific countries means the winners will be those who executed structural reforms, attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI), and diversified away from hydrocarbons more successfully.

Final Word

In short, while the Gulf’s non-oil growth outlook remains generally positive, the pace and robustness vary materially between jurisdictions. For companies, investors, and consultants (such as your digital-marketing and technology consulting operations), this means a highly differentiated approach when assessing market entry, partnerships or strategic positioning across Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Egypt and beyond.