RIYADH: Gulf Cooperation Council banks are set for strong performance through the remainder of 2024, driven by a 10.4 percent increase in lending during the first half of the year, a report claims.  S&P Global attributes this loan growth, up from 6.7 percent in 2023, to robust activity in non-oil sectors across Saudi Arabia and the UAE.  The top 45 GCC banks showed this annualized growth, reflecting heightened economic activity outside the oil industry.