GCC banks to witness 5-6% credit growth in 2026, says S&P
Banks across the GCC are expected to record an average credit growth of 5%-6% as the Iran-US conflict continues to affect the operating environment of financial institutions across the region.
Meanwhile, lenders across Saudi Arabia and the UAE are expected to record stronger, high-single-digit credit growth rates, S&P Global Ratings said in its recent report.
The region saw domestic private-sector credit grow at an annualized rate of 8% as of end-March, factoring in impact from just one month of the conflict. Countries such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia saw more significant slowdowns than the others from their 2025 growth rates.
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