Data and projections: February 2025

_{Sources: PwC analysis, National statistical authorities, IMF estimates and forecasts (WEO, Oct 2024; Kuwait Article IV) and for Lebanon and Palestine, World Bank (Oct 2024). *GDP: UAE Q2; Inflation: UAE estimated from emirates, Qatar Oct, Iraq Sep; Notes: The Middle East region is defined here based on PwC’s business coverage (which excludes non-Arab countries, Syria and Yemen).}

Chart of the quarter

Resilient CEOs in the Middle East remain confident in growth

CEOs in the Middle East continue to exhibit high levels of confidence regarding their company’s revenue growth and the economic outlook for the region for the coming year.

According to the regional findings from our 28th Annual CEO Survey, which includes responses from almost 300 chief executives from 11 countries across the Middle East, this sentiment is the strongest amongst CEOs in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. In the GCC, 90% of CEOs express optimism about short-term revenue growth over the next 12 months.

Additionally, 71% of CEOs in these nations indicate optimism about their own territory's economic growth, surpassing their counterparts in the wider region and globally. Specifically, 80% of CEOs in the UAE and 77% in Saudi Arabia anticipate economic growth within the next year, followed by CEOs in Oman (69%) and Qatar (63%). In contrast, the global average for CEOs predicting growth in their own territories stands at a more conservative 57%.

Also, according to our regional findings, the UAE is the seventh most likely country where global CEOs are planning to invest, outside of their home territory.