RIYADH: Commercial bank assets across the Gulf Cooperation Council rose to more than $3.9 trillion at the end of 2025, up 11.9 percent from a year earlier, according to the bloc’s Secretary-General.
Bank deposits increased 10.6 percent year-on-year to $2.3 trillion, while net foreign assets held by GCC central banks climbed 10.5 percent to $842 billion, reflecting continued liquidity growth across the region’s financial system.
GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi presented the figures at the 86th Meeting of the Committee of Central Bank Governors in Manama, saying sustained economic strength depends on closer policy coordination among member states.
The balance sheet growth comes as listed Gulf banks reported record third-quarter profits. GCC banks posted a combined $16.6 billion in net income in the third quarter of 2025, up 11.6 percent from a year earlier and marking a third consecutive quarterly increase, according to a Kamco Invest report in December, as credit conditions improved across the region.
Al-Budaiwi noted that “this path has been adopted by the GCC states as a steadfast approach and an unwavering commitment in all fields, especially within the monetary and banking sectors,” according to a press release.
