Business · Companies · 2 hrs ago
Gulf industrial investment reaches $426 billion across nearly 22,000 factories
Gulf countries have about $426 billion invested in industry across nearly 22,000 factories employing more than 1.7 million people.
The figures cover the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries and are the latest available through July 2026.
Manufacturing contributed about 13% of the bloc’s GDP in 2025, supporting economic growth and efforts to rely less on oil.
About 40% of industrial investment is in basic industries such as plastics, refined petroleum products, aluminium, gas fuel, iron and steel.
Industrial goods make up 69% of Gulf exports, including petroleum products, vehicles, aluminium and machinery.
China supplies about one-fifth of Gulf imports, which include machinery, vehicles and medicines.
The figures point to opportunities to build more regional supply chains and strengthen industrial links, though industrial activity differs among member countries.
Gulf Cooperation Council countries had about $426 billion in industrial investment across nearly 22,000 factories, according to the latest available data through July 2026.
More than 1.7 million people worked in those factories.
Manufacturing contributed about 13% of the GCC’s gross domestic product in 2025.
About 40% of industrial investment was concentrated in basic industries, including plastics, refined petroleum products, aluminium, gas fuel, iron and steel.
Industrial products accounted for about 69% of GCC exports.
- Who
- Gulf Cooperation Council countries and their industrial sector.
- What
- Industrial investment totaled about $426 billion across nearly 22,000 factories employing more than 1.7 million people.
- When
- The latest available figures were through July 2026; manufacturing’s GDP contribution was reported for 2025.
- Where
- The six Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
- Why
- The figures highlight the sector’s role in economic growth and diversification, and opportunities to strengthen industrial integration.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Manufacturing contributed about 13% of the GCC’s gross domestic product.
The latest available data recorded about $426 billion in industrial investment across nearly 22,000 factories.
- Industrial investment
- About $426 billion
- Factories
- Nearly 22,000
- Factory workers
- More than 1.7 million
- Manufacturing share of GDP
- About 13% in 2025
- Industrial share of exports
- About 69%