Accra:Gulf Cooperation Council Industrial investments in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states have reached approximately US$426 billion, with nearly 22,000 factories established across the region. The industrial sector employs more than 1.7 million people, based on the latest available statistical data as of July 2026.

According to Emirates News Agency, manufacturing contributed about 13.0 percent to the GCC states' gross domestic product in 2025. This highlights the sector's role in supporting the economies of the member states, driving economic diversification, and boosting non-oil activities.

Approximately 40 percent of industrial investments are focused on key industries such as plastics, refined petroleum products, aluminium, gaseous fuels, and iron and steel. These sectors play a crucial role in forming a foundation for manufacturing and intermediate industries and aid in the integration of industrial value chains.

In terms of foreign trade, industrial products represent roughly 69 percent of total GCC exports. The primary exports include petroleum gases and hydrocarbons, petroleum oils, motor vehicles, organic compounds, aluminium, ships and boats, and electrical machinery and equipment.

On the import side, China is the largest source of imports for the GCC, accounting for about 20 percent of the total. Major imports consist of equipment and machinery, motor vehicles, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, and plastics, sourced from a variety of markets.

These figures indicate a growing and diversifying industrial base in the GCC, showing variations in industrial activity among member states regarding investment and factory numbers. This growth is prompting efforts to expand production capacity, develop value chains, strengthen regional industrial integration, localize industries, and enhance the competitiveness of Gulf products in global markets.