From war shock to comeback: IMF’s Azour maps Gulf recovery

Arab News · 22‏/10‏/2026، 4:18:39 م

DUBAI: Gulf economies are heading for a strong rebound in 2027 after the war tested their resilience, with years of reform and long-term investment helping maintain stability across the region, according to Jihad Azour, director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund. Speaking to Arab News in a one-on-one interview at the launch of the IMF’s Regional Economic Outlook in Dubai, Azour pointed to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, saying its reform-driven pillars