The International Monetary Fund released the Regional Economic Outlook in Dubai, UAE. The report points out that due to the US-Israel-Iran conflict, energy production, shipping, trade and tourism sectors have been impacted, and the economies of the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan are expected to shrink by 1.3% in 2026. Jihad Azul, director of the International Monetary Fund's Middle East and Central Asia Department, predicts that the economies of the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, with the exception of Oman, will shrink this year. By contrast, the economies of oil-importing countries have shown some resilience. The International Monetary Fund predicts that if regional conflicts ease in early 2027 and regional trade gradually returns to normal, the economic growth levels of the Middle East and North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan are expected to rebound in 2027.

The International Monetary Fund released the Regional Economic Outlook in Dubai, UAE. The report points out that due to the US-Israel-Iran conflict, energy production, shipping, trade and tourism sectors have been impacted, and the economies of the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan are expected to shrink by 1.3% in 2026. Jihad Azul, director of the International Monetary Fund's Middle East and Central Asia Department, predicts that the economies of the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, with the exception of Oman, will shrink this year. By contrast, the economies of oil-importing countries have shown some resilience. The International Monetary Fund predicts that if regional conflicts ease in early 2027 and regional trade gradually returns to normal, the economic growth levels of the Middle East and North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan are expected to rebound in 2027.