Data from the Gulf Industrial Platform of the GCC Secretariat revealed that $616.271 billion was invested across the top 60 industrial projects in GCC countries during 2025. The investments spanned key sectors including chemicals, non-metallic products, manufactured metals, and food products.
In Kuwait, industrial investments totaled $225.112 billion, ranking it among the leading Gulf countries. The top sectors in Kuwait include the non-metallic products industry ($63.486 billion), manufactured metal products excluding machinery ($50.637 billion), and the food products industry ($33.851 billion).
Other significant investments were directed to rubber and plastics ($17.447 billion), beverages ($9.4 billion), and chemicals ($8.42 billion).
The furniture sector attracted $6.49 billion, followed by paper products ($5.27 billion) and basic metals ($5.206 billion). Additionally, 14 smaller sectors, including leather, wood products, electrical appliances, motor vehicles, computers, pharmaceuticals, and textiles, recorded combined investments of $580.47 million.
Across the GCC, Saudi Arabia led investments in chemicals ($89.629 billion), with the country also focusing on green hydrogen through the NEOM project.
The UAE concentrated on renewable energy, notably the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Power Plant, while the region is also seeing growth in financial technology, smart cities, AI integration, and healthcare infrastructure.
The top 10 Gulf industrial investments in 2025 are as follows (USD billions):
- Saudi Arabia – Chemicals: 89.62
- Kuwait – Non-metallic products: 63.48
- Kuwait – Manufactured metals: 50.63
- Saudi Arabia – Coke and refined petroleum: 35.92
- Kuwait – Food products: 33.85
- Saudi Arabia – Non-metallic products: 28.35
- Saudi Arabia – Basic metals: 24.42
- Unspecified local investments: 24.89
- Qatar – Chemicals: 23.97
- Saudi Arabia – Coke and refined petroleum: 21.31
The data highlights the GCC’s transition from oil dependence to a diversified industrial and technological economy, positioning the region as a dynamic global investment hub.
