GCC industrial investments reach US$426 billion

Industrial investments across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have reached approximately US$426 billion, according to data from the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC-Stat). The region hosts nearly 22,000 factories and employs over 1.7 million people. As of 2025, manufacturing accounted for roughly 13 percent of the GCC states’ gross domestic product, playing a critical role in economic diversification and non-oil sector growth.

Major industrial sectors include plastics, refined petroleum products, aluminium, gaseous fuels, and iron and steel. Industrial products constitute about 69 percent of total GCC exports. China remains the region’s largest import source, accounting for approximately 20 percent of total imports, which include machinery, motor vehicles, and pharmaceuticals.

Despite this economic expansion, the transformation remains heavily dependent on migrant workers. While GCC states have introduced labor reforms to the kafala system—including wage-protection and occupational safety provisions—challenges persist. Migrant workers often face significant recruitment debts, high administrative costs, and difficulties in exercising legal rights regarding unpaid wages or changing employers.