GCC Statistical Center: Industrial Investments in Gulf States Reach $426 Billion
Center's report reveals growth in the Gulf's industrial base and rising exports.
Translated by Alqyas from Al-Jarida — Original source
The Statistical Center of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries reported on Sunday that industrial investments in the GCC states reached approximately $426 billion by the end of July last year, underscoring the growth and expansion of the industrial base in the region.
In its report on the Gulf industrial sector, the Center noted that there are around 22,000 factories employing more than 1.7 million workers, and that manufacturing industries contributed about 13 percent of the GCC’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2025.
It clarified that roughly 40 percent of industrial investments are concentrated in key sectors, notably plastics, refined petroleum products, aluminum, gaseous fuels, iron, and steel—industries that form an important foundation for manufacturing and intermediate industries and support the integration of industrial value chains.
Regarding foreign trade, the Center pointed out that industrial products account for about 69 percent of the total exports of GCC countries, with major exports including petroleum gases, hydrocarbons, petroleum oils, automobiles, organic chemicals, aluminum, ships and boats, and electrical machinery and equipment.
In this regard, it noted that China accounts for approximately 20 percent of the GCC’s total imports, making it the largest source of imports. The most prominent imported goods include machinery and equipment, automobiles, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, and plastics, with diversified supply sources.
The Center emphasized that these indicators reflect the breadth and diversity of the Gulf industrial base, as well as the varying scale of industrial activity among GCC states in terms of investments and the number of factories, amid expanding production capacity, growing investments, and an expanding network of commercial markets.
