A month after the “Epic Fury” operation, I begin my usual scan of financial updates. Not Morningstar or Bloomberg, yet their reports continue to flood in, detailing how unrest involving Iran is shaking investor confidence, reducing valuations across continents, sending crude prices swinging wildly, and disrupting shipping lanes. But GCC economies remain resilient. Despite mounting pressure, they continue to adapt. They are bearing the strain, yet their markets remain steady. This exposes an old truth. Stress reveals weaknesses beyond finances.