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Friday, January 30, 2026 | Daily Newspaper published by GPPC Doha, Qatar.

Tag Results for "economies" (7 articles)

The IMF logo at its headquarters in Washington, DC. The IMF in its ‌World Economic Outlook update forecast global GDP growth ‍at 3.3% in 2026, up 0.2 percentage point from its last estimate in October.
Business

IMF sees steady global growth in 2026 as AI boom offsets trade headwinds

The International Monetary Fund again edged its 2026 global growth forecast higher on Sunday as businesses and economies adapt to US tariffs that have eased in recent months and ‌a continued AI investment boom that has fuelled asset wealth and expectations of productivity gains. The IMF in its ‌World Economic Outlook update forecast global GDP growth ‍at 3.3% in 2026, up 0.2 percentage point from its last estimate in October. That's even with 3.3% growth in 2025, which will also beat the October estimate ⁠by 0.1 percentage point, the IMF said. The global crisis lender ⁠forecast 2027 growth at 3.2%, unchanged from the previous forecast. It has revised global growth rates higher since last July in response to ‍trade deals that have reduced President Donald Trump's tariff rates that peaked in April 2025. "We find that global growth remains quite resilient," IMF chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas told reporters, adding that the Fund's 2025 and 2026 growth forecasts now exceed predictions made in October 2024, before Trump was elected to a second term. "So, in a sense, the global economy is shaking off the trade and tariff disruptions of 2025 and is coming out ahead of what we were expecting before it all started," Gourinchas said. He said businesses have been able to adapt to higher US tariff rates by rerouting supply chains, while trade agreements have lowered some duties and ‌China has shifted exports to non-U.S. markets. The latest IMF forecasts assume an effective US tariff rate of 18.5% down from about 25% in the Fund's April 2025 forecast. The IMF estimated US growth for 2026 at 2.4%, up 0.3 percentage point from October, due in part to a big ‍push from massive investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure including data ⁠centres, powerful AI chips ‌and power. The IMF edged its 2027 growth forecast a tenth of a point lower to 2.0%. The IMF also said technology investment was boosting activity in Spain, which saw 0.3 percentage point upgrade to its 2026 GDP forecast to 2.3%, and in Britain, where the IMF kept its forecast unchanged at 1.3% for 2026. Gourinchas said the AI boom poses risks for heightened inflation if it continues at its breakneck pace. But he added that if expectations that AI-driven productivity gains and profits are not realised, this could spark a correction in high market valuations that could crimp demand. The IMF report lists AI as among risks that are tilted to the downside, along with disruptions to supply chains and markets from geopolitical tensions as well as new flare-ups in trade tensions. A Supreme Court decision against Trump's broad tariffs under an emergency sanctions law, expected in coming days or weeks, "would inject another dose of trade policy uncertainty into the global economy" if Trump resurrects new tariffs under other trade laws, ​Gourinchas said. But the IMF said that AI represents ‌significant upside for the global economy if the investment surge leads to rapid adoption and productivity gains are realised and boost business dynamism and innovation. "As a result, global growth may be lifted ⁠by as much as 0.3 percentage points in 2026 and ‍between 0.1 and 0.8 percentage points per year in the medium-term, depending on the speed of adoption and improvements in AI readiness globally." Among forecasts for other major economies, the IMF said China's 2026 growth would reach 4.5%, down from a stronger-than-expected 5.0% performance in 2025, but 0.3 percentage point higher than October estimates. The upgrade reflects a 10 percentage-point reduction in US tariff rates on Chinese goods for a year as well as continued diversion of exports to other markets such as Southeast Asia and Europe. Gourinchas said that China risks running into more protectionist ​trade policies unless it develops a more balanced growth model that relies less on exports and more on internal demand. The IMF forecast eurozone growth at 1.3% for 2026, up 0.1 percentage point from the October estimate, driven by increased public spending in Germany and stronger performances in Spain and Ireland. The Fund kept its 2027 eurozone growth forecast unchanged at 1.4%, noting that planned European increases in defence spending would materialise only in later years. Japan also saw a slight upgrade to 2026 growth due to its new government's fiscal stimulus package, but Brazil was a notable outlier to the improvement trend, with a 0.3 percentage point reduction in its 2026 growth rate to 1.6% since October. IMF officials attributed the downgrade largely to tighter monetary policy needed to fight a flare-up in inflation last year. The IMF ⁠said that globally, inflation was forecast to continue to decline, from 4.1% in 2025 to 3.8% in 2026 and 3.4% in 2027. Gourinchas said this leaves room for more accommodative monetary policy that will help underpin growth. 

Gulf Times
Business

Resilience amid the downsides

When the oil price crashed in the mid-1990s, reaching lows of below $20 per barrel after it had peaked during the Iraq-Kuwait conflict, it was a huge challenge for exporting nations. It exposed economies that were heavily reliant on an unpredictable, fluctuating global price for a single commodity. Since then, policy-makers in the Gulf have learned valuable lessons about how to dampen the boom-and-bust cycle and rebalance their economies.Three decades on, a report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), struggles to find fault with the progress made. Its latest report on the six nations of the Gulf Co-operation Council (December 2025) commends policy in all areas of economic policy: monetary, fiscal and trade and business-related matters.There are several policy areas that mitigate dependence on global commodity prices:Long-term, global investments through a sovereign wealth fund,Counter-cyclical fiscal policy, making investment decisions based on potential for economic development rather than trophy assets,Encouragement of diversification through nurturing universities, research centres and entrepreneurial growth, including in hi-tech, supporting digitalisation and AI,Reducing bureaucracy and encouraging trade. The GCC has committed to these disciplines. The report’s title refers to ‘enhancing’ resilience to global shocks – many of the key reforms are in place, and in some cases have been established for many years.The region has been less affected by tariffs and trade disputes than some other parts of the world. Energy is exempt from the tariffs, and the Gulf economies do not have huge exposure to the US consumer market. The IMF notes that growth prospects for the global economy are subdued, including for the oil and gas sector. But low-to-moderate growth with moderate oil prices and low inflation is a healthy place for Gulf economies to be, given their strengths, including low debt and fiscal surpluses or low deficits, with the exception of Bahrain. Five GCC nations are in the top 30 most competitive nations, with the UAE in fifth place and Qatar in ninth.It is still the case that oil and gas exports remain the primary export earner in the region. The oil price has remained remarkably stable for the past year, typically around the $60-70 mark, despite significant price rises in commodities such as precious metals. It is likely to remain reasonably stable, as the forces that could send it sharply upwards or down are in balance. There has been something of a glut in supply, while economic growth has slowed and there is tension between the US and Venezuela, an oil producer.Diversification initiatives have been helped by governments in the region prioritising digitalisation and use of artificial intelligence (AI). The IMF reports that the GCC ‘is close to or on par with advanced economies as indicated by the Enhanced Digital Access Index (EDAI)’, scoring well on digital infrastructure and affordability.The report notes the overseas assets held by Gulf nations, although these do vary. Gross international investment assets range from 90% of GDP in Bahrain to 760% of GDP in Kuwait as of 2023.Two features that are somewhat more negative, highlighted in the report, are linked: The extent to which the public sector continues to be the dominant provider of employment, and to be the main source of investment. The IMF would like to see more private sector-led development. Growth figures for the non-hydrocarbon sector have been healthy, and more growth is projected, ranging from 2.5-4.5%, helped by the region hosting major international events especially sporting events. The share of exports that non-hydrocarbons account for varies considerably: From just 5-7% of GDP in Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, to as high as 60% in the United Arab Emirates, reflecting the development of trading and manufacturing hubs especially in Dubai.The level of public sector employment in the region, while higher than ideal for a balanced economy, does mean that oil wealth is to some extent spread throughout the economy, and not confined to the elite. This supports domestic demand. But the IMF would like to see the wage gap between the public and private sectors reduced.For many years the Gulf nations have been welcoming to immigrants, and have a well-developed work visa system. This has helped economic development in a region with high per-capita income but a small indigenous population. The region is well positioned to attract talent from all parts of the world, especially as the US and Europe have become less welcoming to immigrants.The Fund also recommends further development in local financial markets. There is scope to expand the depth of credit and bond markets. Nations that have a higher proportion of local currency debt, and diverse investor bases, have more stable bond yields and market liquidity during periods of stress.Regional trade could be boosted, for example by reducing non-tariff barriers such as content requirements, and bottlenecks in logistics and trade financing. There is scope for increased trade both within the Gulf Co-operation Council members, and with neighbouring regions, such as Africa and south Asia.Monetary policy, by following the US and pegging currencies to the dollar, has been slightly restrictive, with interest rates above the estimated neutral level, which helps keep inflation low.Overall, while the overall economic outlook for the world is still ‘tilted to the downside’, the report says, the Gulf nations are well-positioned.The author is a Qatari banker, with many years of experience in the banking sector in senior positions. 

An employee works next to a reel of copper flat wire on the production line at the Wellascent factory in Ganzhou, Jiangxi province, China. Asia's ‌factory powerhouses closed 2025 on a firmer footing, with activity swinging ‌back to growth in several key ‍economies as export orders picked up, helped by new product launches and blistering demand for artificial intelligence.
International

Asia's factories end 2025 on firmer footing as orders pick up

Asia's factory activity rebounds with growth in key economies; Taiwan and South Korea PMIs show expansion after months of decline; new product launches and demand boost semiconductor manufacturers Asia's ‌factory powerhouses closed 2025 on a firmer footing, with activity swinging ‌back to growth in several key ‍economies as export orders picked up, helped by new product launches and blistering demand for artificial intelligence. Purchasing ⁠managers' indexes (PMIs) released by S&P Global on ⁠Friday showed factory activity in the major tech-exporting economies of South Korea and Taiwan ‍snapping months of declines in December, while most Southeast Asian nations maintained brisk growth.They followed PMIs released for China on Tuesday, which also showed an unexpected turnaround in factory activity in the world's second-largest economy, helped by a pre-holiday surge in orders.While it is too early to say whether Asia's largest exporters are adjusting to US tariffs, a pickup in global demand had given some manufacturers ‌cause for optimism heading into the new year."Exports from most countries have surged in recent months, and we think the near-term outlook for Asia’s export-oriented manufacturing sectors remains favourable," said Shivaan ‍Tandon, Asia Economist with Capital Economics.He ⁠noted most Asian ‌economies should continue to benefit from a shift in U.S. demand away from China and strong global demand for AI-related hardware.Taiwan's PMI rose to 50.9 in December from 48.8 in November, breaking above the 50-point mark that separates growth from contraction for the first time in 10 months."Taiwan's manufacturing sector ended 2025 on a high, with firms signalling fresh increases in production and overall new business amid reports of firmer demand conditions," said Annabel Fiddes, Economics Associate Director at S&P Global Market Intelligence."There were signs that companies anticipate the recovery to continue into 2026, with manufacturers building their inventories and expressing stronger ​optimism around future output."Similarly, South Korea's ‌PMI rose to 50.1 from 49.4, the first expansionary reading since September.Both economies are among the world's largest ⁠manufacturers of semiconductors, which have benefited ‍enormously from a booming market for artificial intelligence.South Korea's PMI survey showed the steepest rise in new orders since November 2024."According to manufacturers, new product launches and improved external demand drove the improvement in sales, while confidence in the outlook also improved markedly in December to reach its highest level since May 2022," said Usamah Bhatti, economist at ​S&P Global Market Intelligence. "In turn, firms were encouraged to raise both employment levels and purchasing activity."Official data released on Thursday showed exports from South Korea, a bellwether for global trade, beat forecasts in December.Elsewhere in Asia, factories mostly sustained activity growth although Indonesia and Vietnam reported slight moderations in expansion.India's factory sector activity slowed to its weakest growth in two years, although the pace is still among the region's strongest.Separately, Singapore on Friday reported a pickup in economic growth for 2025 to 4.8% from ⁠4.4% in 2024 while the quarterly growth beat forecasts.S&P Global will release the Japanese PMI on Monday. 

Gulf Times
Business

Economic Outlook for ASEAN-6 Countries during 2026 remains positive: QNB

Qatar National Bank (QNB) discussed the key factors that will support economic growth in the ASEAN-6 economies during 2026 and contribute to a positive growth outlook, including the stabilization of the global trade environment and the decline in the severity of risks associated with trade protectionism, along with the easing of monetary conditions in advanced economies as well as within the ASEAN-6 countries.In recent decades, Southeast Asia has been the most dynamic region in the world, showcasing the brightest economic growth performance, QNB added in its weekly economic commentary.Within this region, the six largest countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN-6), which includes Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines, have been among the fastest growing economies, with Singapore already reaching the status of an advanced economy.Trade is a major pillar of the economic growth model for the ASEAN-6 countries, and significant disruptions in international commerce can have a large impact on their performance.Trade and growth forecasts initially deteriorated sharply on fears of the impact of supply-chain disruptions, rocketing uncertainty, and potentially escalating trade wars. But despite a still-uncertain environment, the growth outlook for the ASEAN-6 group has been stable, with real GDP growth rates in 2026 expected to remain overall strong, similar to those of 2025.First, the global trade environment has begun to stabilize, as the U.S. reached agreements with an increasing number of trade partners, and there is no evidence of a negative impact of trade in the ASEAN-6 countries. The initially unyielding protectionism of the U.S. administration shifted towards pragmatism as agreements were reached with the U.K., Japan, and the E.U., among many others.Importantly, for the ASEAN-6, agreements were reached with Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Philippines, establishing a general tariff of 19% and lower rates for selected goods, while for Singapore the levy stands at 10%. Although these rates are higher than before Liberation Day, the end of the negotiations largely reduced the levels of uncertainty discarding the more extreme negative scenarios, and are still within a manageable range, especially as other competitors are also affected by new U.S. tariffs.Even as the U.S. has become more protectionist, the rest of the world is pursuing further integration via new or deeper trade agreements. In October, the ASEAN member states signed two major agreements: one improving cross-border flows within the group, and an upgrade of the ASEAN-China Free Trade framework. At the same time, negotiations began for an ASEAN-South Korea agreement. Furthermore, some ASEAN-6 countries appear to be benefiting from trade diversion as firms shift supply chains away from China.The impact of tariffs after Liberation Day on the ASEAN-6 economies has so far been negligible, with exports continuing to show monthly growth rates in the range of 10 to 20% in USD in annual terms. Even as the world adjusts to a more protectionist U.S., the outlook on global trade is improving, contributing to a more supportive growth scenario for the ASEAN-6 economies.Second, lower policy interest rates in the major advanced economies (AE), as well as in the ASEAN-6 countries, provide a better global environment for economic growth. Since 2024, the U.S. Federal Reserve has already lowered its policy rate by 175 basis points (bp) to 3.75% and is likely to bring it further down to a neutral level of 3.5%. In a similar period, the European Central Bank has lowered its benchmark policy rate by 200 bp to 2% and is likely to keep it unchanged during next year. Thus, policy interest rates in major AE are set to stabilize at lower levels than in recent years, providing better financial conditions for emerging economies.Similarly, central banks in the ASEAN-6 countries have implemented their own monetary easing cycles after inflation was brought under control following the post Covid-pandemic recovery. In these economies, the average increase in policy rates was 260 basis points (bps), to levels above those at the onset of the Covid-pandemic. As tight monetary policy brought inflation rates down to their target ranges, central banks reached a turning point and began to cut policy interest rates, reducing the cost of credit and boosting credit growth. Overall, looser monetary conditions in the AE as well as from the ASEAN-6 central banks provide better credit conditions for growth in the region.All in all, the growth outlook for the ASEAN-6 economies remains stable on the back of an improvement in the trade environment and more supportive monetary.

US President Donald Trump (centre L) walks with Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (centre R) as he walks from Air Force One upon arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Kuala Lumpur on October 26, 2025. US President Donald Trump arrived in Malaysia on October 26 on the first leg of an Asian tour that will include high-stakes trade talks with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. (AFP)
International

Red-carpet welcome for Trump in Malaysia as key Asian tour gets underway

US President Donald Trump arrived in Malaysia on Sunday on the first leg of an Asian tour that will include high-stakes trade talks with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.US-China trade talks in the Malaysian capital entered a second day on Sunday, ahead of Trump's meeting with Xi in South Korea, in a bid to seal a deal to end the bruising trade war between the world's two biggest economies.Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he hoped for a "comprehensive deal" with Xi, adding that he expected China to make a deal to avoid further 100 percent tariffs that are due to come into effect on November 1."We're moving forward to the final details of the type of agreement that the leaders can review," US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told reporters in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.As he left Washington, Trump added to speculation that he could also meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for the first time since 2019 while on the Korean peninsula, saying he was "open to it".The US president will also visit Japan, on his first trip to Asia since returning to the White House in January in a blaze of tariffs and international dealmaking.It is Trump's first visit as president to Kuala Lumpur, where his flight was escorted on its final approach by two Malaysian F-18 jets.Greeted with a red carpet welcome and a sea of Malaysian and US flags, a grinning Trump responded with his trademark arm-waving dance to cultural performers.Trump, who is expected to sign a trade deal with Malaysia, rode with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in his armoured Cadillac -- nicknamed "The Beast".A small group of protesters, including some holding placards reading "Dump Trump", rallied elsewhere in the city.The US president is also expected to witness the signing of a ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, a truce he helped broker after the deadliest clashes between the neighbours in decades.Tariff talksAfter Malaysia, Trump is expected in Tokyo on Monday, where the following day he will meet Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.The US leader said he had heard "great things about her" and hailed the fact that she was an acolyte of assassinated former premier Shinzo Abe, with whom he had close ties.Takaichi said she told Trump in a phone call on Saturday that "strengthening the Japan-US alliance is my administration's top priority on the diplomatic and security front".Japan has escaped the worst of the tariffs Trump slapped on countries around the world to end what he calls unfair trade balances that are "ripping off the United States".The highlight of the trip is expected to be South Korea, where Trump will meet Xi for the first time since his return to office.Trump is due to land in the southern port city of Busan on Wednesday ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, and will meet South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.On Thursday, global markets will be watching closely to see if the meeting with Xi can halt the trade war sparked by Trump's sweeping tariffs, especially after a recent dispute over Beijing's rare-earth curbs.Trump initially threatened to cancel the meeting and announced the fresh 100 percent tariffs during that row, before saying he would go ahead after all.South Korea's reunification minister has said there is a "considerable" chance that Trump and North Korea's Kim will also meet.The two leaders last met in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas during Trump's first term.Kim has said he would also be open to meeting the US president if Washington drops its demand that Pyongyang give up its nuclear arsenal.

Gulf Times
Business

Dollar steady as US-China trade tensions ease

The dollar steadied on Tuesday, as US President Donald Trump softened his tone on tariffs toward China, and hopes grew for a possible meeting with his Chinese counterpart, which gave a boost to expectations of easing tensions between the world's two largest economies. The euro remained below USD 1.16, trading at USD 1.1566. The British pound fell 0.06 percent to USD 1.3328, while the New Zealand dollar fell again, touching a six‑month low at USD 0.57145. The dollar index, which measures the performance of the US currency against a basket of currencies, rose 0.04 percent to 99.34 points. The Australian dollar remained almost unchanged at USD 0.6516, whereas the Japanese yen declined 0.2 percent to 152.57 per dollar.

Gulf Times
Qatar

Digital Qatar: How coupon platforms are fueling the country’s E-Commerce growth

The last decade has seen Qatar evolve into one of the fastest-growing digital economies in the Middle East. From online banking to food delivery, digital services are transforming the way people live, shop, and interact. At the heart of this transformation lies e-commerce—a sector that has seen exponential growth, powered by tech-savvy consumers, expanding retailer networks, and the surge of mobile-first shopping. Yet one often overlooked driver of this growth is the rise of coupon platforms, which are quietly reshaping how shoppers save, how retailers attract new customers, and how the digital economy in Qatar builds resilience for the future.A Nation Going DigitalQatar’s ambitious National Vision 2030 emphasizes diversification, innovation, and sustainability. The country’s young population, coupled with one of the world’s highest smartphone penetration rates, has made it an ideal market for e-commerce adoption. Global retailers like IKEA, H&M, adidas, and Bloomingdale’s now cater directly to Qatari shoppers online, while homegrown players such as Snoonu and Talabat are redefining last-mile delivery.E-commerce revenues in Qatar are projected to grow consistently, with fashion, electronics, groceries, and lifestyle goods leading the charge. The convenience of shopping online has become second nature, and platforms that provide added value, such as verified coupon websites, are playing a pivotal role in shaping consumer behavior.The Power of Coupons in the Digital EraCoupons are no longer pieces of paper tucked into newspapers. In today’s digital world, they have become a core part of the online shopping experience. In Qatar, shoppers increasingly search for deals before completing their purchases, looking for platforms that guarantee genuine and verified codes. This is where GC Coupons, Qatar’s leading coupon website, stands out.Founded to make savings accessible to all, GC Coupons has grown into the most trusted destination for shoppers across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the wider Gulf. It partners with over 2,000 leading online retailers, ensuring that customers never pay full price when they don’t have to. Millions of shoppers rely on the platform every year to save money—at no cost to them.Retailers That Define Qatar’s Shopping CultureGC Coupons’ influence is seen in the breadth of retailers it works with. For Qatar’s digitally savvy population, this includes everything from everyday essentials to luxury indulgences. Shoppers can find discounts for Noon, Carrefour, IKEA, Samsung, Bloomingdale's, H&M, adidas, Max Fashion, Dyson, Talabat, Snoonu, Calo, Mumzworld, Crocs, ALDO, MARGABi, SHEIN, Temu, Puma, Damas Jewellery, Crate & Barrel, Jeeny, Eyewa, THAT Concept Store, Level Shoes, Izil Beauty, Reef Perfumes, CAFU, Namshi, Centrepoint, Whites, West Elm, Splash, Bath & Body Works, Baytonia, and American Eagle—among many others.Each of these brands plays a role in the country’s consumer landscape, and GC Coupons helps bring them closer to shoppers by lowering the cost barrier. Whether it’s a family shopping for groceries on Carrefour, a student looking for a fashion deal on SHEIN, or a professional ordering lunch from Snoonu, coupons drive more transactions while building loyalty for retailers.Exclusive Codes That Build TrustIn a crowded e-commerce environment, trust is a premium currency. Shoppers in Qatar are wary of unreliable codes that waste time or don’t apply at checkout. GC Coupons has differentiated itself by ensuring that every code is verified and updated. This reliability has not only built consumer trust but also strengthened retailer partnerships.By offering exclusive coupon codes for leading retailers, GC Coupons also provides brands with a direct channel to attract price-conscious yet quality-driven customers. For example, Noon deals and Namshi offers through GC Coupons have become go-to options for shoppers during major sale events like White Friday, Ramadan, and back-to-school seasons.Driving the Future of Local PlatformsLocal players such as Snoonu, Talabat, and Calo have redefined convenience in Qatar’s e-commerce ecosystem. By integrating with coupon platforms, they benefit from enhanced visibility and a broader customer base. For consumers, the value is twofold: they enjoy savings on platforms they already use daily, while supporting local innovation that drives Qatar’s digital economy. For instance, GC Coupons’ Snoonu vouchers highlight how discounts extend beyond global retailers to local businesses, empowering them to compete with international giants.Fashion, Lifestyle, and Luxury—For LessFashion remains one of the largest online spending categories in Qatar. From fast-fashion brands like Max Fashion and H&M to luxury retailers like Bloomingdale’s and Level Shoes, GC Coupons ensures that style does not come with a prohibitive price tag. Through codes like Max Fashion discounts, shoppers can stay trendy without overspending. Luxury-focused Qatari consumers also turn to GC Coupons for savings on items that were once thought of as non-discountable—from high-end perfumes at Reef and Damas Jewellery to furniture at Crate & Barrel and West Elm.Everyday Savings That Add UpFor many households in Qatar, online shopping has moved from occasional indulgence to daily necessity. Groceries from Carrefour, home essentials from Baytonia, and deliveries from Talabat or Snoonu now form part of weekly routines. Even fuel delivery through CAFU can be optimized with discounts. By providing verified coupons, GC Coupons turns everyday transactions into opportunities for meaningful savings.The Broader Economic ImpactThe benefits of coupon platforms extend beyond consumers. For retailers, working with GC Coupons means increased conversions, reduced cart abandonment, and measurable ROI from marketing campaigns. For Qatar’s digital economy, coupon usage encourages more online transactions, greater trust in digital platforms, and a stronger overall ecosystem.In fact, platforms like GC Coupons play a role in bridging international and local players. Global retailers expand into the Gulf region with confidence when they see a strong coupon culture fostering consumer engagement. Local businesses, meanwhile, get an opportunity to compete on equal footing, using coupon partnerships as a growth lever.Looking Ahead: The Next Chapter of Savings TechAs Qatar continues to invest in digital infrastructure, the role of coupon platforms will only grow. Mobile-first experiences, exclusive coupon codes, and partnerships across sectors will remain critical. Already, GC Coupons is leading this evolution with an app that provides shoppers with instant access to verified codes across multiple categories, including electronics and food delivery.Innovations such as personalized coupon recommendations, AI-driven shopping insights, and deeper integrations with local loyalty programs are also on the horizon. In many ways, coupon technology is evolving into a new branch of fintech—what some industry observers are calling “savings tech.”ConclusionQatar’s digital economy is thriving, and coupon platforms are one of its unsung heroes. By bridging consumers and retailers, platforms like GC Coupons—Qatar’s leading coupon website—not only save shoppers money but also fuel the growth of e-commerce across the Gulf. With over 2,000 retailer partnerships and millions of satisfied customers, GC Coupons has established itself as the region’s most trusted coupon platform.Whether it’s a family shopping for groceries, a student buying fashion, or a professional booking travel, the message is clear: in Digital Qatar, every riyal saved counts—and GC Coupons is making sure those savings are always within reach.For those looking to explore deals today, GC Coupons offers an unmatched variety—from Noon promotions to 6th Street bargains—all just a click away.