Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Sunday, Jun 01, 2025

Stick with reform, IMF advises Gulf

Stick with reform, IMF advises Gulf

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has advised the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to “maintain reform momentum, despite oil boom.” Additional revenues from higher energy prices could help the region achieve long-term prosperity by maintaining the recent reform momentum.
“GDP growth for the GCC countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, is expected to more than double, reaching 6.5 percent in 2022,” an IMF report said, a recent Policy Paper. Surging commodity prices have limited the spillovers from the war in Ukraine and the impact from tighter global financial conditions and have allowed for a more positive outlook for GCC economies. Throughout its history, the GCC region has experienced distinct periods of rising oil revenues.

During those periods, countries deepened their dependency on oil and gas, increased wages and hirings in the public sector, expanded social safety nets, and ramped up capital expenditure. During 2002-08 and 2010-14 for example, the public sector wage bill increased by 51 and 40 percent, respectively. “Our analysis suggests that GCC countries will save far more resources than during previous episodes because of the fiscal and structural reforms taken in the region,” the report noted. In 2022 alone, the overall fiscal surplus will amount to over USD 100 billion, as the rise in expenditures – particularly on wages – remains contained so far.

While GCC countries have benefited from higher, albeit volatile, oil and gas prices, numerous risks still cloud the outlook – notably a slowdown in the global economy. In this context, the reform momentum established in previous years should be maintained – irrespective of the level of hydrocarbon prices, the IMF urged. A comprehensive package of policies should be implemented to respond to near-term shocks and firmly address medium-and long-term challenges:

* Fiscal policy in the near term should avoid procyclical spending, with the windfall from higher oil prices used to rebuild buffers and strengthen policy space. Given the available fiscal space, targeted support to deal with shocks that affect the most vulnerable should be privileged while leveraging on the progress achieved in the provision of targeted social benefits.

* Medium-term fiscal policy should remain geared towards achieving growth friendly consolidation to ensure fiscal sustainability and increase savings for intergenerational equity through a credible rules-based medium-term fiscal framework. while preparing a smooth energy transition. This should be supported through non-oil revenue mobilization, energy subsidy phase-out, containment of public sector wages, and increasing spending efficiency. Proper assessment of the fiscal stance would require full incorporation of the operations of the sovereign wealth funds, which are increasingly involved in national development.

* Maintaining financial sector stability is essential to sustain strong economic growth. Overall, financial sectors appear sound, with GCC bank balance sheets shielded from tighter global financial conditions by a concomitant period of high oil prices and abundant liquidity, which are facilitating credit expansion. But bank soundness should continue to be carefully monitored.

* Policies for a sustained private sector-led economic growth and diversification will be as key as ever. Ongoing structural reforms should be accelerated and distortions reduced, including by raising female labor force participation, increasing flexibility for expatriate workers, improving education quality, further leveraging technology and digitalization, enhancing regulatory frameworks, strengthening institutions and governance, deepening regional integration, and addressing climate change.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
UAE Offers Free ChatGPT Plus Subscriptions to Citizens
Lebanon Initiates Plan to Disarm Palestinian Factions
Iran and U.S. Make Limited Progress in Nuclear Talks
The Daily Debate: The Fall of the Dollar — Strategic Reset or Economic Self-Destruction?
Trump Administration's Tariff Policies and Dollar Strategy Spark Global Economic Debate
OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive’s Startup for $6.5 Billion to Build a Revolutionary “Third Core Device”
Turkey Weighs Citizens in Public as Erdoğan Launches National Slimming Campaign
Saudi-Spanish Business Forum Commences in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia and Spain Sign MoU to Boost SME Sectors
UK Suspends Trade Talks with Israel Amid Gaza Offensive
Iran and U.S. Set for Fifth Round of Nuclear Talks Amid Rising Tensions
Russia Expands Military Presence Near Finland Amid Rising Tensions
Indian Scholar Arrested in Crackdown Over Pakistan Conflict Commentary
Israel Eases Gaza Blockade Amid Internal Dispute Over Military Strategy
President Biden’s announcement of advanced prostate cancer sparked public sympathy—but behind closed doors, Democrats are in panic
A Chinese company made solar tiles that look way nicer than regular panels!
Indian jet shootdown: the all-robot legion behind China’s PL-15E missiles
The Chinese Dragon: The True Winner in the India-Pakistan Clash
Australia's Venomous Creatures Contribute to Life-Saving Antivenom Programme
The Spanish Were Right: Long Working Hours Harm Brain Function
Did Former FBI Director Call for Violence Against Trump? Instagram Post Sparks Uproar
US and UAE Partner to Develop Massive AI Data Center Complex
Apple's $95 Million Siri Settlement: Eligible Users Have Until July 2 to File Claims
US and UAE Reach Preliminary Agreement on Nvidia AI Chip Imports
President Trump and Elon Musk Welcomed by Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim with Cybertruck Convoy
Strong Warning Issued: Do Not Use General Chatbots for Medical, Legal, or Educational Guidance
Saudi Arabia Emerges as Global Tech Magnet with U.S. Backing and Trump’s Visit
This was President's departure from Saudi Arabia. The Crown Prince personally escorted him back to the airport.
NVIDIA and Saudi Arabia Launch Strategic Partnership to Establish AI Centers
Trump Meets Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara in Historic Encounter
Trump takes a blow torch to the neocons and interventionists while speaking to the Saudis
US and Saudi Arabia Sign Landmark Agreements Across Multiple Sectors
Why Saudi Arabia Rolled Out a Purple Carpet for Donald Trump Instead of Red
Elon Musk Joins Trump Meeting in Saudi Arabia
Trump says it would be 'stupid' not to accept gift of Qatari plane
Quantum Computing Threatens Bitcoin Security
Michael Jordan to Serve as Analyst for NBA Games
×