Daily Gulf Intelligence
πŸ“… July 18, 2026 πŸ• 7:00 AM Gulf Time πŸ“Š Auto-Generated
REGULAR EDITION

πŸ“ˆ Market Snapshot

Tadawul
12,450
β–² 0.4%
ADX
9,780
β–² 0.6%
DFM
4,320
β–Ό 0.2%
QE Index
10,890
β–² 1.1%
Brent Crude
$82.40
β–² 0.8%
Gold
$2,510
β–² 1.2%
Silver
$32.40
β–² 2.1%
USD/SAR
3.75
β€”

πŸ“° Top Stories β€” 4 Minute Read

1

Moscow’s tense mood reaches Dubai’s Marinagrad

Oil prices hovered around the previous close on Friday despite fresh strikes by the US and Iran and reports that Tehran had asked the Houthi movement to prepare to shut the Red Sea export route. Brent

β–ͺ Why it matters: Direct impact on oil price sector across Gulf markets. Regional implications are material.
πŸ“ Gulf   🏷️ Markets
2

Energy Connects

The US and Iran traded attacks again on Friday, pressuring oil prices and making a quick return to the fragile ceasefire deal signed last month even less likely.

β–ͺ Why it matters: Direct impact on oil price sector across Gulf markets. Regional implications are material.
πŸ“ Gulf   🏷️ Energy
3

Oil Markets Ignore Mounting Risks at Their Own Peril

Escalating U.S.-Iran hostilities, attacks on critical infrastructure, and near-halted Hormuz tanker traffic are fueling expectations of higher oil prices. Friday, July 17, 2026 US forces striking civi

β–ͺ Why it matters: Direct impact on oil price sector across Gulf markets. Regional implications are material.
πŸ“ Kuwait   🏷️ Energy
4

Turkey widens tax breaks for nuclear power projects

Egypt’s chemicals and fertiliser exports grew strongly in the first five months of 2026, part of a government-backed push to expand overseas sales and narrow the country’s trade deficit. The Chemicals

β–ͺ Why it matters: Direct impact on AI sector across Gulf markets. Regional implications are material.
πŸ“ Egypt   🏷️ Markets
5

Hormuz toll plan could net Iran and Oman $7bn a year

Saudi Arabian banks are expected to report mostly stronger second-quarter earnings as easing funding cost pressures offset slowing loan growth and the impact of tighter regulations on banking fees. Th

β–ͺ Why it matters: Direct impact on bank sector across Gulf markets. Regional implications are material.
πŸ“ Saudi Arabia   🏷️ Markets
6

Oman airports draw less traffic and fewer passengers

Saudi Arabia’s Ades Holding Company has secured two overseas drilling contracts as it rebuilds momentum after several contracts were suspended during the Iran conflict. The deals in the UK and N

β–ͺ Why it matters: Direct impact on AI sector across Gulf markets. Regional implications are material.
πŸ“ Saudi Arabia   🏷️ Markets

πŸ” Sector Watch

πŸ›’οΈ

Energy

Brent holding $80-85 range. OPEC+ discipline intact through Q3. Non-OPEC supply growth slowing. Asian demand forecast revised up 0.4% by IEA.

🏦

Finance

GCC bank profits up 18% YoY. NIMs stabilizing. Loan growth strongest in Saudi (22%) and UAE (16%). DIFC: 47 new fintech licenses Q1.

πŸ—οΈ

Real Estate

Dubai residential transactions hit AED 42B in April β€” monthly record. Saudi giga-project awards reached $18B Q1.

πŸ’»

Technology

Gulf VC: $1.2B across 84 deals Q1. Saudi startups 37% of total. Fintech and logistics lead. 3 deals above $50M in Riyadh.

🌍 Regional Briefs

πŸ‡ΈπŸ‡¦
5.6%
Non-Oil GDP
πŸ‡¦πŸ‡ͺ
56.8
Dubai PMI
πŸ‡ΆπŸ‡¦
$12.8B
Budget Surplus
πŸ‡°πŸ‡Ό
$140B
Infra Plan
πŸ‡§πŸ‡­
3.2%
GDP Growth
πŸ‡΄πŸ‡²
Ba1
Moody's
πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡¬
22.4% ↓
Inflation
🌍
$4T
GCC SWF

πŸ“… Week Ahead

Mon Jun 30 GCC Finance Ministers β€” Riyadh
Tue Jul 1 OPEC+ Technical Committee β€” Vienna
Wed Jul 2 UAE-India CEPA Review β€” Abu Dhabi
Thu Jul 3 Arab League Economic Council β€” Cairo

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