Royal Decree No. 56/2025 makes Oman the first GCC state to introduce a personal income tax. The law sets a 5% flat rate on income above OMR 42,000 and takes effect on January 1, 2028. This article covers the full threshold mechanics, exempt income categories, residency rules, and employer withholding obligations.
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China exported a record 131 million metric tonnes of steel in 2025, and GCC markets absorbed a significant share. This investigation covers the subsidised surplus mechanics, the Strait of Hormuz supply crunch, the split between primary producers and downstream fabricators, and what the green steel transition changes for Gulf manufacturers.
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The UAE’s CEPA network — 32 bilateral trade agreements, JAFZA free zones, and overland corridors — is how Dubai stayed indispensable despite Red Sea disruptions.
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Gulf HR directors face a hard deadline in May 2026: nationalisation quotas are enforced with full penalties while hiring remains frozen across logistics, finance, and hospitality. The UAE’s June 30 Emiratisation target, Saudi Arabia’s new Nitaqat Mutawar phase, and updated fee structures in Qatar and Oman all carry immediate financial consequences. This article sets out what each country requires and how leading organizations are meeting targets without adding headcount.
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Saudi Arabia entered May 2026 with a first-quarter budget deficit of $33.5 billion, more than double the shortfall recorded in the same period a year earlier. The Strait of Hormuz closure has cut oil revenues while government spending rises. Riyadh is now choosing between scaling back its Vision 2030 megaprojects or deepening its position in international debt markets. This analysis examines the fiscal data, the specific project decisions underway at NEOM and the Public Investment Fund, and the contrasting positions of Oman, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait in the same shock.
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