Non-Oil Sector Led GCC Economic Growth in Q3 of 2025 as Diversification Accelerates

At the real GDP level, the non-oil sector accounted for 70.7%, compared to 29.3% for the oil sector.

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The GCC’s non-oil sector led economic growth in the third quarter of 2025, as the region continued to advance economic diversification, according to data from the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf.

The council’s nominal gross domestic product (GDP) reached approximately US$595.8 billion in the third quarter of 2025, up from US$583 billion in the same quarter of 2024, representing 2.2% annual growth.

Meanwhile, real GDP totaled US$474.4 billion, recording 5.2% increase year-on-year. Compared with the second quarter of 2025, real GDP grew 1.6%.

Of this figure, the non-oil sector accounted for 78% of nominal GDP, compared to 22% for the oil sector. At the real GDP level, the non-oil sector accounted for 70.7%, compared to 29.3% for the oil sector.

Among non-oil activities, real estate recorded real growth of 10.2%, followed by accommodation and food services at 8.2%, wholesale and retail trade at 8.0%, and electricity, water and gas at 7.4%. Other services grew 7.3%.

At current prices, manufacturing accounted for 12.4% of economic activity, wholesale and retail trade at 9.7%, construction at 8.4%, public administration and defense at 7.5%, financial and insurance activities at 7.0%, and real estate activities at 5.8%, the data showed. Oil and gas extraction accounted for 22.0%, while other activities made up 27.3%.

shutterstock
shutterstock

The GCC’s non-oil sector led economic growth in the third quarter of 2025, as the region continued to advance economic diversification, according to data from the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf.

The council’s nominal gross domestic product (GDP) reached approximately US$595.8 billion in the third quarter of 2025, up from US$583 billion in the same quarter of 2024, representing 2.2% annual growth.

Meanwhile, real GDP totaled US$474.4 billion, recording 5.2% increase year-on-year. Compared with the second quarter of 2025, real GDP grew 1.6%.

Of this figure, the non-oil sector accounted for 78% of nominal GDP, compared to 22% for the oil sector. At the real GDP level, the non-oil sector accounted for 70.7%, compared to 29.3% for the oil sector.

Among non-oil activities, real estate recorded real growth of 10.2%, followed by accommodation and food services at 8.2%, wholesale and retail trade at 8.0%, and electricity, water and gas at 7.4%. Other services grew 7.3%.

At current prices, manufacturing accounted for 12.4% of economic activity, wholesale and retail trade at 9.7%, construction at 8.4%, public administration and defense at 7.5%, financial and insurance activities at 7.0%, and real estate activities at 5.8%, the data showed. Oil and gas extraction accounted for 22.0%, while other activities made up 27.3%.

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