Foreign Investment in GCC Countries Reaches $523.4 BillionMuscat, 23 Nov 2025 (ONA) — The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have witnessed a steady increase in foreign investment, with total incoming foreign direct investment (FDI), excluding intra-GCC investments, reaching approximately $523.4 billion in 2023. This confirms the growing international confidence in the Gulf business environment.Data issued by the Gulf Statistics Centre indicated that FDI flows accounted for about 5% of total global flows in 2023. The volume of intra-GCC investments also rose from $88.2 billion in 2015 to $130.3 billion in 2023, equivalent to 20% of the total foreign investment balance in the region.The external merchandise trade of the GCC countries recorded a slight growth of 1.1% during 2024, despite a decrease in the average oil price from $82.5 per barrel in 2023 to $80.5 in 2024.Non-oil exports achieved a notable increase, reflecting progress in diversifying the export base. Re-export activity also saw continuous growth, thanks to the advanced logistics centers in the region.The total public revenues of the GCC countries reached about $670.2 billion in 2024, an annual increase of 2%, while public expenditure amounted to $659.3 billion. This reflects the commitment of Gulf governments to progress in controlling public finances and directing spending towards development, infrastructure, and social protection.The data indicated a rising contribution of non-oil revenues to total public income, resulting from the implementation of indirect taxes such as Value-Added Tax (VAT) and selective taxes, alongside improved collection efficiency through digital transformation in public financial management.On the other hand, Gulf stock market indices recorded positive performance during 2024, with the total market capitalization rising to approximately $4.2 trillion. This performance came despite global market anticipation due to monetary policy tightening in the United States, and was supported by improved corporate profits, lower inflation levels, and continued inflows of institutional investments into key sectors.— Ends/AH