The Arabian Read — Daily Gulf Intelligence

Why WTI Is Suddenly Trading $12 Below Brent

Oil prices edge higher as Hormuz diplomacy, soaring freight costs and diesel market fears drive a widening Brent-WTI spread. Oil prices are set for a slight 2% weekly gain, despite rumours that this w

▪ Why it matters: Direct impact on oil price sector across Gulf markets. Regional implications are material.

📍 Gulf 🏷️ Markets

US thanks Turkey, Oman, UAE for supporting sanctions against Iran

US thanks Turkey, Oman, UAE for supporting sanctions against Iran US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has thanked the governments of the United Kingdom, Turkey, Oman and the UAE for supporting Washing

▪ Why it matters: Direct impact on AI sector across Gulf markets. Regional implications are material.

📍 UAE 🏷️ Markets

Egypt to launch World Bank-partnered FDI strategy targeting 16 priority sectors

Egypt will shortly launch a foreign direct investment (FDI) strategy in partnership with the World Bank targeting 16 priority sectors, marking a structural shift from general promotion to direct inves

▪ Why it matters: Direct impact on FDI sector across Gulf markets. Regional implications are material.

📍 Egypt 🏷️ Finance

Egyptian, Omani FMs discuss Iran crisis, Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb developments

Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty met, Friday, September 25, 2026, with Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi to discuss bilater

▪ Why it matters: Direct impact on AI sector across Gulf markets. Regional implications are material.

📍 Oman 🏷️ Markets

Houthis Attack Saudi Arabia, Claim to Target Aramco Facilities

Saudi Arabia came under attack from the Houthis again on Thursday, with the kingdom saying it intercepted missiles fired toward the Red Sea port of Yanbu and city of Taif.

▪ Why it matters: Direct impact on Aramco sector across Gulf markets. Regional implications are material.

📍 Saudi Arabia 🏷️ Markets

Oman govt continues to monitor prices, markets

Muscat: Developments in inflation are gaining increasing importance amid the transformations taking place in the global economy, underscoring the need to...

▪ Why it matters: Direct impact on inflation sector across Gulf markets. Regional implications are material.

📍 Oman 🏷️ Markets

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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.

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Finance

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

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Real Estate

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

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Technology

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

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5.6%

Non-Oil GDP

🇦🇪

56.8

Dubai PMI

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$12.8B

Budget Surplus

🇰🇼

$140B

Infra Plan

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3.2%

GDP Growth

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Ba1

Moody's

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22.4% ↓

Inflation

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$4T

GCC SWF

Mon Sep 28 GCC Finance Ministers — Riyadh

Tue Sep 29 OPEC+ Technical Committee — Vienna

Wed Sep 30 UAE-India CEPA Review — Abu Dhabi

Thu Oct 1 Arab League Economic Council — Cairo

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