By Yousef Saba
DUBAI (Reuters) - The economies of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council are expected to return to growth this year, a quarterly Reuters survey showed on Thursday, but half are seen expanding less than previously forecast.
Economists in the April 8-20 poll forecast a marked improvement in economic fortunes across the oil-rich region after it was hammered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
But while median forecasts for 2021 growth were raised for Bahrain and to a lesser extent the United Arab Emirates, they were scaled back for Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman while the outlook for Qatar was unchanged.
The economists expect Saudi Arabia's economy, the Middle East's largest, to grow 2.4% this year, less than the 2.8% forecast in a similar poll three months ago. Economic growth in 2022 and 2023 was seen at 3.3% and 3.0% respectively, versus 3.2% and 3.1% in the previous poll.
The kingdom is in the midst of an ambitious economic development plan dubbed Vision 2030 to wean the economy off oil, create jobs and boost investment.
"While some progress has been made in implementing the needed reforms, bureaucracy, lack of transparency, and inefficiency remain major impediments to achieving sustained rapid private sector growth," the Institute of International Finance (IIF) said in a report.
The UAE's economy was seen growing by 2.3% this year, up slightly from the 2.2% expected three months ago. Growth was forecast at 3.6% in 2022 and 3.3% in 2023, up from 3.5% and 3% projected in January.
"The UAE can afford a modestly expansionary fiscal stance in 2021 given its spare capacity and the recovery in oil prices," the IIF said.
"Higher oil prices combined with the economic recovery will support the banking sector by improving the liquidity situation and demand for private sector credit."
The forecast for Qatar's 2021 economic growth was unchanged from the previous poll at 2.8%, but edged up to 3.6% for next year from 3.5%. The 3.1% growth forecast for 2023 was up a full percentage point from the previous survey with a boost expected from its hosting of the FIFA World Cup in late 2022.
The economists revised down their expectations for Kuwait this year to 1.8% growth from 2.2% previously as it faces a possible liquidity crunch. However, the 3.5% growth seen next year is comfortably above the January forecast of 2.7%, with 2023 expectations at 2.9% versus 3.0%.
Oman's economy was expected to grow at 1.9% this year, 3.2% next year and 2.4% in 2023, compared to 2.1%, 2.7% and 2.5% in the previous poll.
Bahrain's economy was seen growing the most this year, at 2.9% compared with 2.5% in the last poll, with the pace expected to be maintained next year, in line with the previous forecast. Economic growth in 2023 was forecast at 2.7%, up from 2.0% previously.
(Polling by Md Manzer Hussain; Writing by Yousef Saba; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)