What are interest rates in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf today?
Every rate with its date and source, and the US rate for comparison.
Last updated: 2026-10-29
Short answer
The table below gives the official policy rate in 18 countries, including the United States for comparison, with data as of 2026-10-29; each row shows its last change and source. Most Gulf states peg their currency to the dollar, so their rates move with US Federal Reserve decisions, while the Central Bank of Egypt sets its rate according to Egyptian inflation and the exchange rate.
The table
| Country | Policy rate | Last change and previous rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | 4.5% | 2026-09 ← 4.25% | Bank for International Settlements |
| United Arab Emirates | 3.9% | 2026-09-17 ← 3.65% | TradingView |
| Qatar | 4.6% | 2026-09-17 ← 4.35% | TradingView |
| Kuwait | 3.5% | 2025-12 ← 3.75% | Bank for International Settlements |
| Bahrain | 4.75% | 2026-09-17 ← 4.5% | TradingView |
| Oman | 4.5% | 2026-09-17 ← 4.25% | TradingView |
| Egypt | 19% | — | TradingView |
| Jordan | 6% | — | TradingView |
| Morocco | 2.25% | 2025-03 ← 2.5% | Bank for International Settlements |
| Tunisia | 7% | — | TradingView |
| Algeria | 2.5% | — | TradingView |
| Lebanon | 25% | — | TradingView |
| Iraq | 5.5% | — | TradingView |
| Libya | 3% | — | TradingView |
| Sudan | 28.3% | last reading 2023-02-28 | TradingView |
| Yemen | 27% | last reading 2022-11-30 | TradingView |
| Mauritania | 6% | — | TradingView |
| United States | 3.875% | 2026-09 ← 3.625% | Bank for International Settlements |
Figures come from the Bank for International Settlements where it publishes one, and from TradingView for the other countries. The full table for 150 countries, with upcoming decision dates, is on the economic calendar page.
Rates after inflation and the exchange rate
We measured the policy rate and monthly inflation together in 135 countries: the rate is above inflation in 92 and below it in 42. Data as of 2026-10-29.
Highest real rates
| Country | Policy rate | Inflation (YoY) | Real rate | Currency vs dollar, 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zimbabwe | 27.5%2026-09-28 | 4.3%2026-10 | +22.24%2026-10 | —last reading 2023-12 |
| Congo | 12.5%2026-09-30 | 3%2026-08 | +9.22%2026-08 | —last reading 2026-01 |
| Brazil | 13.75%2026-10-20 | 4.58%2026-09 | +8.77%2026-09 | +2.2%2025-09 ← 2026-09 |
| Ghana | 14%2026-09-24 | 5.2%2026-09 | +8.37%2026-09 | —last reading 2026-01 |
| Gambia | 14%2026-09-30 | 6.06%2026-09 | +7.49%2026-09 | —last reading 2025-12 |
Lowest real rates
| Country | Policy rate | Inflation (YoY) | Real rate | Currency vs dollar, 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venezuela | 58.86%2026-09-30 | 465.6%2026-09 | −71.91%2026-09 | —last reading 2025-11 |
| Iran | 23%2026-10-31 | 87.9%2026-07 | −34.54%2026-07 | —last reading 2024-05 |
| Cuba | 2.25%2026-09-30 | 28.44%2026-09 | −20.39%2026-09 | —not available |
| South Sudan | 13%2026-09-30 | 41.6%2026-07 | −20.2%2026-07 | —last reading 2025-05 |
| Libya | 3%2026-09-30 | 16.6%2026-09 | −11.66%2026-09 | —last reading 2026-04 |
Arab countries and the United States
| Country | Policy rate | Inflation (YoY) | Real rate | Currency vs dollar, 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt | 19%2026-09-24 | 13.9%2026-09 | +4.48%2026-09 | −4.83%2025-07 ← 2026-07 |
| Saudi Arabia | 4.5%2026-10-13 | 1.9%2026-09 | +2.55%2026-09 | +0%2025-09 ← 2026-09 |
| United Arab Emirates | 3.9%2026-10-28 | 2.04%2025-12 | —inflation outdated | +0%2025-09 ← 2026-09 |
| Kuwait | 3.5%2026-10-20 | 2.19%2026-07 | +1.28%2026-07 | −0.93%2025-09 ← 2026-09 |
| Qatar | 4.6%2026-09-16 | 3.98%2026-07 | +0.6%2026-07 | +0%2025-09 ← 2026-09 |
| Bahrain | 4.75%2026-09-16 | 3.1%2026-09 | +1.6%2026-09 | +0%2025-08 ← 2026-08 |
| Oman | 4.5%2026-09-16 | 3.2%2026-09 | +1.26%2026-09 | +0%2025-09 ← 2026-09 |
| Jordan | 6%2026-09-21 | 2.73%2026-09 | +3.18%2026-09 | +0%2025-08 ← 2026-08 |
| Morocco | 2.25%2026-09-22 | 0.5%2026-09 | +1.74%2026-09 | −1.95%2025-07 ← 2026-07 |
| Tunisia | 7%2026-09-30 | 5.6%2026-09 | +1.33%2026-09 | +0.59%2025-07 ← 2026-07 |
| Algeria | 2.5%2026-09-30 | 8.01%2026-08 | −5.1%2026-08 | −2.49%2025-08 ← 2026-08 |
| Lebanon | 25%2026-07-31 | 17.5%2026-09 | +6.38%2026-09 | —last reading 2026-03 |
| Iraq | 5.5%2026-09-30 | 3.8%2026-09 | +1.64%2026-09 | —last reading 2026-05 |
| Libya | 3%2026-09-30 | 16.6%2026-09 | −11.66%2026-09 | —last reading 2026-04 |
| Sudan | 28.3%2023-02-28 | 63.3%2023-02 | —rate outdated | —last reading 2023-02 |
| Yemen | 27%2022-11-30 | 0.77%2017-06 | —rate outdated | —last reading 2024-05 |
| Mauritania | 6%2026-09-30 | 9.3%2026-09 | −3.02%2026-09 | —last reading 2024-08 |
| United States | 3.88%2026-10-20 | 3.7%2026-09 | +0.17%2026-09 | +0%2025-09 ← 2026-09 |
Real rate = (1 + policy rate) ÷ (1 + annual inflation) − 1, computed only when the monthly inflation reading is less than 120 days old. The date under each figure is the period it measures.
This is a reading of published figures, not a prompt to deposit, transfer or buy a currency. The policy rate differs from the actual deposit return, and a fall in the currency against the dollar can erase the gap.
Sources: exchange rates from the Bank for International Settlements (compiled from central banks), monthly inflation from TradingView (national statistics offices), and policy rates from the table above.
Why Gulf rates follow the Federal Reserve
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman peg their currencies to the dollar at a fixed rate. To keep the peg stable their rates need to stay close to US rates, so they usually follow on the same decision day. Kuwait pegs to a basket of currencies, which gives it slightly more room.
What the policy rate means for you
- Returns on bank deposits and certificates move up and down with it.
- Borrowing costs for companies and households rise with it, which affects the profits of indebted companies.
- Gold pays no yield, so it is often sensitive to US rates; we explain this on a separate page.
Related questions
What is the policy rate?
It is the rate the central bank sets for lending to banks or taking their deposits, and it anchors the other lending and deposit rates in the country.
When are the next rate decisions announced?
Each central bank publishes a meeting calendar, and the economic calendar page shows the upcoming dates in your device's time.
Why do the dates differ between countries?
Because each source publishes on its own schedule, so every row shows its last change rather than presenting all figures as if they were from the same day.
These are published figures with their date and source, not a forecast of future decisions.