GULF WEEKLY: Humain and G42 advance AI plans, Gulf joins Board of Peace, Syria takes Rojava

GULF COUNTRIES - Report 23 Jan 2026 by Justin Alexander

A skimmable summary overlaid with our analysis and links. Headlines:

* Oil ticked up a little to $65 as Trump mentioned the "armada" headed towards Iran.
* GCC debt security issuance rose 14% in 2025, comprising 35% of EMs (ex-China).
* Chinese bank lending to the GCC was $16bn in 2025, as much as the prior nine years combined.
* UAE-Saudi geopolitical tensions continued to fester on social media, in Yemen and in parts of Africa.
* Saudi real estate prices declined for the first time in five years, down -0.7% y/y in Q4.
* IMF GDP revisions for Saudi Arabia were the second largest globally, up to 4.5% growth this year.
* Saudi Arabia is financing Humain with $1.2bn to build 250MW of AI data center capacity.
* Abu Dhabi transferred its holdings in car firms Nio and McLaren to its new L’imad SWF.
* G42 launched its “digit embassy” offering for nations; US chips for its data centers are coming soon.
* Sharjah real estate sales surged by 18% in 2025, and its airport passenger numbers rose by 14%.
* QIA is reportedly considering separating its domestic and international arms to improve focus.
* Separately, QIA signed an agreement to invest up to $25bn through Goldman Sachs AM.
* Bahrain’s final 2024 accounts show significant underperformance in gas revenue.
* Most Gulf states joined Trump’s Board of Peace and advocated for a focus on Gaza.
* The Syrian army has retaken most of the northeast, controlled by the Kurdish-led SDF for a decade.
* The US withdrew from Iraq’s Al-Asad base in Iraq and is putting pressure on government formation.
* Databank updates: Bahrain & UAE fiscal, Dubai & Oman inflation, Saudi forecasts.

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