A recent multinational survey underscores growing international investor confidence in the Gulf region’s economic prospects, despite persistent geopolitical uncertainties. Conducted by Consulum in partnership with HarrisX, the poll canvassed 2,043 active investors across the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, and China, revealing that 82 percent of respondents are optimistic about the Gulf’s economic outlook. Investors from China, the United States, and the United Kingdom exhibited the highest levels of confidence.

The survey found that 69 percent of participants consider the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries a good or excellent investment destination currently, while 70 percent anticipate an increase in the region’s global economic influence over the next five years. Complementary research conducted in May surveyed residents across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Bahrain, showing even stronger domestic confidence: 90 percent believed their country was on the right track and 89 percent expressed optimism about the economic future.

Consulum CEO James Davies attributed international investor confidence to the Gulf economies’ ongoing reform agendas, considerable investment capacity, and demonstrated resilience amid regional instability. He emphasized that investors are not engaging in “blind confidence” but are closely monitoring how governments adapt national strategies in response to the conflict involving Iran while maintaining their long-term visions.

Supporting this sentiment, Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Statistics reported a rise in its Business Confidence Index to 56.6 points in June, up from 55.6 in May. The index, a forward-looking gauge of economic conditions outside the oil sector, had declined sharply in March amid regional tensions but has since rebounded steadily, signaling recovery alongside growth.

Reflecting the expanding opportunities, indoor air quality technology firm Kaiterra recently established a dedicated office in Riyadh, complementing a regional hub opened in Dubai the previous month. Kaiterra CEO Liam Bates noted the rapid acceleration of demand within Saudi Arabia, driven largely by energy and infrastructure projects linked to the country’s Vision 2030 initiative. He highlighted a broader shift in client profiles, with government and semi-government infrastructure projects accounting for a growing share of business, in addition to steady private commercial demand.

Bates also pointed to Saudi Arabia’s leadership commitment to environmental and health priorities as a key factor in the company’s medium-term optimism. “The most ambitious projects are here, and in every conversation I’ve had, it strikes me how seriously the Saudi market takes quality and genuine value,” he remarked.

The Gulf’s technology sector similarly reflects robust confidence, illustrated by the upcoming LEAP conference in Riyadh, organized by Tahaluf. Now in its fifth year, LEAP is projected to attract over 201,000 visitors, 1,800 global tech companies, and 8,000 investors in its 2025 edition, which generated $14.9 billion in deals, including major partnerships like Groq-Aramco Digital and Alat-Lenovo. Originally scheduled for April 2026, LEAP was rescheduled to late August to late September to facilitate international participation amid the ongoing regional conflict.

Tahaluf CEO Mike Champion said the decision to postpone rather than downscale the event demonstrated the organizers’ commitment to maintaining the event’s scale and global appeal. He pointed to strong bookings and growing commercial performance across Tahaluf’s event portfolio, which has generated an estimated $7.6 billion in economic impact since 2023, with more than $10 billion in property transactions and roughly 250,000 jobs created.

Champion conveyed long-term optimism despite geopolitical challenges, forecasting annual growth of 18 to 21 percent for the company’s portfolio and highlighting sustained global investor interest in the Gulf’s evolving markets.