The IMF's October World Economic Outlook projects real GDP in 2026 to fall 16.7% in Kuwait, 16.0% in Iraq, 15.6% in Qatar and 11.3% in Bahrain, tied to interruptions in energy production and transport. These are full-year projections rather than recorded results, and they are much deeper than the IMF's April forecasts of contractions of 0.6% in Kuwait, 6.8% in Iraq, 8.6% in Qatar and 0.5% in Bahrain. The fund links the shock to lower oil and gas exports, damage to energy facilities, reduced trade and weaker business confidence caused by the conflict. For 2027, the IMF expects strong rebounds of 19.0% in Iraq, 18.8% in Qatar, 17.1% in Kuwait and 13.9% in Bahrain, based on a recovery in output, exports and transport capacity.
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Original headline: IMF Forecasts Double - Digit 2026 GDP Contractions in Four Oil Exporters
Read the original on econotimes.com ↗
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| Market | Gold |
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| Close on 10/23/2026 | 3,995.78 |
| Change that session | -0.72% |
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