GULF WEEKLY: Kuwait’s deficit narrows, Qatar bids for Olympics, UAE companies invest in Saudi, France will recognize Palestine

GULF COUNTRIES - Report 25 Jul 2025 by Justin Alexander

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

* UAE-Saudi cooperation: Al-Futtaim invests in Cenomi and Air Arabia partners for a Dammam airline.
* Deals worth $6bn were signed at the Saudi-Syrian investment forum in Damascus.
* Dubai saw record home sales in Q2, and Sharjah’s real estate sales grew by 48% in H1.
* Qatar confirmed that it will bid to host the 2036 Olympics.
* Qatar is close to finalizing a $4bn tourism investment in Egypt’s Ras Alam al-Rum region.
* Qatar mediated a preliminary agreement between Congo and the M23 rebels.
* Kuwait’s deficit was only -2% of GDP in 2024/25, considerably less than expected by all forecasters.
* Weaker oil production and prices suggest that Kuwait’s spending must have been cut sharply.
* Oman’s deficit was -1% of GDP in Jan-May 2025, as revenue fell by -4% y/y and spending rose 6%.
* Oman hotel guests grew by 9% in H1, with more European tourists despite a decline in total arrivals.
* Bahrain hosted Lebanon’s president and announced plans to open an embassy in Beirut.
* There was a ceasefire in Syria’s Sweida region after around 1,000 were killed in a week of clashes.
* Israel and the US withdrew from Gaza ceasefire talks in Qatar, blaming Hamas.
* France said it will recognize Palestinian statehood, and 25 Western states spoke out on Gaza.
* The Knesset voted (symbolically) to annex the West Bank, and Israeli ministers called for mass expulsions and the settlement of Gaza.
* Databank updates: Oman and Kuwait fiscal; Oman and Kuwait inflation; Oman tourism and population.

Now read on...

Register to sample a report

Register
Sign-in
Forgot your password?
Copyright 2025 GlobalSource Partners. All rights reserved. This report is prepared for GlobalSource Partners’ clients and may not be redistributed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, retransmitted or disclosed, in whole or in part, or in any form or manner, without the express written consent of GlobalSource Partners. This report is distributed simultaneously to our website and other portals used by GlobalSource Partners. The information herein was obtained from various sources and is believed to be reliable but GlobalSource Partners does not warrant its completeness or accuracy. Neither GlobalSource Partners nor any Country Analyst, officer or employee accepts any liability whatsoever for any direct, indirect or consequential damages or losses rising from any use of this report or its contents.