Gulf states supply ~30% of seaborne crude and had ~$2.8tn combined GDP in 2024; rising Mar 27, 2026 tensions risk broader trade and financial spillovers.

The impact of the war on Gulf economies’ external positions is diverging sharply, with some states facing severe current account deterioration while others benefit from higher energy prices Capital Economics said in a note.

A fragile two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran has led to a sharp fall in oil prices, but fresh data points to mounting economic damage across Gulf economies and rising uncertainty in Egypt.

The military confrontation unfolding across the Middle East is forcing a reckoning for the Persian Gulf's wealthiest economies.

Escalating conflict in the Middle East could push the Gulf economies into recession this year, with the scale of the downturn depending largely on how long the fighting lasts and whether energy infrastructure suffers lasting damage.

ALGIERS, Algeria, June 15 (IPS) - The German government, along with a number of other countries, are currently organising flights to evacuate travellers and influencers stranded in the Gulf states. For many citizens of other nationalities, however, there is no such assistance. They remain stuck in precarious situations, marked by exploitation and insecurity.