Emerging Strategic Trends Defining the 2026 Regional Economy

Affirming the growth of AI in the area, a report launched by PwC earlier this month stated that the usage of AI among the workforce in the Middle East continues to increase, with 75 percent of employees in the region utilizing it in their tasks over the previous 12 months.

In November, a report released by KPMG highlighted Saudi Arabia's progress in the innovation sector and said that 84 percent of CEOs in the country are prepared to release AI properly, well above the 76 percent international standard, supported by the Kingdom's information governance community, consisting of national initiatives led by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority.

Policymakers are believing holistically about how to make the area appealing, including having more practical laws to permit experimentation and development," stated the report.

Top service leaders, policymakers and financiers from the GCC and Latin America recently checked out how countries from the two regions can grow trade between each other in Dubai, UAE.More than 500 local and global policymakers, heads of state, CEOs, company leaders, financiers, and market specialists participated in the very first Global Company Forum Latin America held at the Atlantis Palm - Dubai.

How to Secure a Competitive Edge in 2026

In 2015 the GCC comprised of the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, imported $11 billion worth of goods from Latin America. And exports to Latin America from the region were $5.6 billion, a declaration from organisers stated. Both regions rely on each other for necessary items.

In 2015 Latin America supplied nearly half the meat imports into the GCC and 36 percent of the area's total sugar imports, it included. Brazil is by far the largest trading partner for nations in the area, followed by Argentina and Mexico. Amongst the Latin American states, the GCC counts on Brazil for meat (mainly poultry), Argentina for cereals, Mexico for cars and Chile for wood items, said a declaration.

The online forum was organised by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce under the theme "Shifting Synergies", explores how companies can benefit from the altering patterns of worldwide demand and what function Dubai can play in helping with the next step in business relations. Dubai Chamber takes a pioneering position not just in the UAE and in the GCC but internationally too, by acting as an info and research study centre, by offering organization documentation, using legal services, facilitating networking chances via signature company events and delivering nearly every imaginable organization solution, it mentioned.

GCC development will strengthen in 2026, led by faster expansion in hydrocarbons; non-oil development will stay strong but sluggish a little. Non-oil activity will be supported by population growth, brand-new industries, and public investment; inflation will remain soft, while financial policy will loosen. Hydrocarbons sector development will speed up, offsetting in part lower oil prices; fiscal balances will be blended, with surpluses in UAE and Qatar, however deficits persist elsewhere.

How to Maintain a Leading Advantage in 2026

SHARJAH (WAM) The GCC and broader Middle East region is poised for the next wave of investments in AI and tech-led sectors, with business-friendly and innovation-focused government policies drawing in funds and talent, stated organization leaders at the 9th edition of Sharjah Entrepreneurial Festival (SEF 2026). Throughout a panel discussion on the very first day of SEF 2026 taking a look at "What Does the Next Year of Equity Capital Appear Like", speakers concurred that the emerging regional investment landscape appears appealing.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Reacting to a concern on regional startups' prospects of benefiting from recent financial investments in digital infrastructure, Tala Al Jabri, Founder and Managing Partner of Wyld VC said: "We have so much choosing us in the area: the low expense of energy, a really progressive federal government that is ahead in policy, regulation and information personal privacy; and actually strong educational organizations that are increasingly taking a look at AI and ending up technical talent in AI."She included: "Our ultimate objective is to see this area, specifically the GCC, become an AI superpower.

Our greatest chauffeur right now is investing in talent, since in the AI race, it's the technical skill that truly wins.

"International development funds are coming in, which shows clear signs of maturity of the ecosystem The capability of the UAE and regional governments to draw in skill; their innovation-first method, abundance of capital here as well as inflow globally are the essential structure blocks."Paula Tavangar, Chief Financial Investment Officer at Injaz Capital said that within the region, Saudi Arabia is leading the variety of offers with the greatest worths, with 250 "largest ticket size" offers taped in 2025 in the nation.