Middle East GDP to be “almost entirely reliant” on cupcakes by 2020, say economists

Cupcake manufacturing is set to take over from oil production and exporting as the main component of most Middle East GDPs, according to a new study from an economic research group.

Citing regional cupcake baking’s astronomical rise over the past three years compared to the relatively static levels of oil extraction, the study suggests that by 2020, around 62 per cent of gross national production revenues will come from cutesy mini cakes with hideously colourful sickly sugary toppings.

“At current growth rates, we expect cupcakes to overtake oil by 2016,” said lead researcher Annabelle Orangutan. “And with an average of 207 new shops – each with names such as Cakey Breaky Heart and Sugar Sparkle Unicorn Fairy – opening each day across the GCC, we predict the economies of countries such as the UAE and Qatar will be almost entirely reliant on cupcakes by 2020.”