Industrial investments in GCC states reach $426 billion

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states have seen a significant surge in industrial investments, reaching a total of $426 billion as of July 2026. This growth is accompanied by the establishment of nearly 22,000 factories, which have collectively employed more than 1.7 million people, as reported by the GCC Statistical Center (GCC-Stat).

The industrial sector's contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) of the GCC member states stands at approximately 13 percent, highlighting its crucial role in economic diversification and non-oil economic development. Key industries such as plastics, refined petroleum products, aluminum, gaseous fuels, and iron and steel form the backbone of manufacturing and intermediate sectors, facilitating the integration of industrial value chains.

These industries constitute around 40 percent of industrial investments and are essential for the region's economic growth. In terms of foreign trade, industrial products account for approximately 69 percent of total GCC exports, with key exports including petroleum gases, hydrocarbons, petroleum oils, motor vehicles, organic compounds, aluminum, ships and boats, and electrical machinery and equipment.

China is the largest source of imports for the GCC, accounting for around 20 percent of total imports, with major categories of imports including equipment and machinery, motor vehicles, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, and plastics. The expanding and diversifying industrial base across the GCC, coupled with growing investment and trade networks, underscores the sector's pivotal role in supporting economic growth and enhancing competitiveness in the region.

Brief written by urgent.news from Saudi Gazette's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.