{
  "id": 16493416,
  "title": "Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan GDP to contract 1.3% in 2026: IMF",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/middle-east-north-africa-and-pakistan-gdp-to-contract-1-3-in-2026-imf",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-25T15:51:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf Times Business",
    "slug": "gulf-times-business",
    "url": "https://www.gulf-times.com/article/736657/business/middle-east-north-africa-and-pakistan-gdp-to-contract-13-in-2026-imf"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected a significant contraction in GDP for the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan in 2026, with a forecast of -1.3%. The decline is attributed to the Iran war's impact on energy production, shipping, tourism, trade and investor confidence. While economic growth is expected to surge to 6.6% in 2027, the IMF cautions that further disruptions to energy production could exacerbate the outlook. The conflict's uneven effects have direct hits on oil-exporting economies like several Gulf states, leading to potential recessions. Oman remains the exception among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) economies, which are projected to experience double-digit declines in GDP. Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are all anticipated to face economic downturns in 2026. The IMF's outlook is clouded by exceptionally high uncertainty, with the principal risk being a prolonged conflict. External financial conditions could tighten if investors reassess AI-driven productivity gains and interest rates rise further amid inflation and fiscal concerns. The IMF urges policymakers to focus on maintaining price stability, fiscal sustainability, central bank independence and implementing structural reforms to boost productivity and job creation.",
  "summary": "The IMF has forecast a sharp drop in economic output in the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan this year due to the Iran war, followed by 6.6% growth in 2027, though it warned that further energy ...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn Business",
        "title": "Middle East tensions dent investor confidence",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/23/middle-east-tensions-dent-investor-confidence",
        "published": "2026-10-23T02:05:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Financial Times",
        "title": "Intelligence memo warns Iran plotting to kill Americans in Middle East",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/intelligence-memo-warns-iran-plotting-to-kill-americans-in-middle-east",
        "published": "2026-10-24T02:47:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Live Mint",
        "title": "Iran claims control of Strait of Hormuz, says 2 oil tankers hit mines, warns US warships against Persian Gulf entry",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/iran-claims-control-of-strait-of-hormuz-says-2-oil-tankers-hit-mines",
        "published": "2026-10-24T10:33:07.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Seeking Alpha News",
        "title": "Iran in 'advanced stages' of plans to target US officials in Middle East",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/iran-in-advanced-stages-of-plans-to-target-us-officials-in-middle-east",
        "published": "2026-10-24T12:36:31.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}