# Middle East and Central Asia economies to shrink in 2026, IMF says

https://mins.news/en/item/97489

- Al Jazeera, 2026-10-13 05:59 UTC
- Economy
- Original: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/10/13/middle-east-and-central-asias-economy-to-shrink-in-2026-amid-war-imf-says?traffic_source=rss

> The IMF forecasts the Middle East and Central Asia economy will contract 0.3 percent in 2026, down from its April projection of 1.9 percent growth, citing the US-Israel war on Iran and prolonged shipping disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar and Bahrain are expected to record double-digit GDP declines.

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