BENGALURU, Jan 24 Reuters Economies in the sixmember Gulf Cooperation Council GCC will grow this year at half the rate of 2022 as oil revenues take a hit from an expected mild global slowdown, according to the median view from a Reuters poll of economists.

Crude oil prices, a major driver for Gulf economies, are down more than a third from last year39;s highs and were expected to remain under pressure this year over fears of a recession in major economies sapping demand.

Overall growth in the six GCC economies was forecast to average 3.3 and 2.8 this year and next respectively, the Jan. 923 poll showed, down from 4.2 and 3.3 in the previous poll.

The outlook for 2023 is more cautious given the weaker external environment, although the GCC will likely continue to outperform many developed economies in terms of GDP growth, wrote Khatija Haque, head of research and chief economist at Emirates NBD.

While oil and gas output growth is expected to slow this year, continued investment to boost production capacity in the region should see the sector contribute positively to headline GDP again in 2023.

Brent crude is expected to average 89.37 a barrel in 2023, nearly 4.6 lower than the 93.65 consensus in a November survey and lower than an average of 99 per barrel seen last year, a separate Reuters poll showed.

Saudi Arabia, the region39;s largest economy and top crude oil exporter, was forecast to grow 3.4 this year and 3.1 in 2024, slightly outperforming the region as a…