Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi called for concrete progress in cross-border banking cooperation between the GCC and China. The remarks were made during a Bangkok meeting between GCC central bank governors and People's Bank of China Governor Pan Gongsheng. The discussions aimed at linking financial markets, supporting trade facilitation, and maintaining monetary stability.
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned that elevated energy prices will likely persist even after Gulf conflict subsides, with Strait of Hormuz navigation risks hitting Asian and Chinese supplies. Concurrently, senior transaction bankers reported that energy security and AI infrastructure expansion are driving higher working capital requirements and shifting trade finance patterns across Asia.
Foreign direct investment inflows into the UAE rose 48.7% in 2024 to $45.6 billion, up from $30.7 billion in 2023, according to Analytics Insight. Economic expansion is increasingly propelled by non-oil sectors including artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, and financial technology. The country is expanding international market access through Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements in line with its 2031 vision.
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