The Operational Benefits of Deep Strategy Intelligence

El Houni asked the speakers to share what keeps them "on-point" at work and what advice they have for the audience. Hamad Al Hajri, CEO and Creator of Snoonu stated it was "important to build limits" in between work and individual life and take brief vacations to "detach" from the office.

Karim Benkirane, CCO of Du, stated: "If you make the people you work with pleased, you will make the consumer pleased, who will then make the shareholders happy."Ambareen Musa, CEO for Revolut GCC, stated the ability to "not stress" is the essential to finding a service for issues.

Today, we're assembling more than 3000 meetings between financiers and 119 Gulf-listed business with a combined value of $2.4 trillion at the HSBC GCC Exchanges Conference 2026, in London. We're bringing together financiers, business, exchanges, and policymakers to discuss what is altering in the area, and what comes next, including the growth and ongoing advancement of the Gulf's capital markets, and the region's growing role in global networks of capital and trade.

Saudi Arabia and UAE are poised to lead the Gulf region's financial expansion in 2026, supported by strong private-sector efficiency, durable domestic demand and restored investment momentum, according to the most recent ICAEW Economic Insight Q4 2025 report, produced by Oxford Economics. The GCC is anticipated to outperform most worldwide regions peers next year, with local GDP forecast to grow by 4.4%. Throughout the GCC, non-energy activity is projected to broaden by 4.1% in 2026, driven by strong labour markets, improving credit conditions and increasing financial investment in innovation and AI-related infrastructure.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Optimising Corporate ROI through Strategic Business Planning

Although oil earnings will be under pressure in the very first half of 2026, production is expected to increase again in the 2nd half of 2026, supporting the region's medium-term outlook, it stated. Saudi Arabia will stay a major contributor to GCC momentum, with GDP forecast to grow 4.3% in 2026.

Development will be supported by commercial expansion and policy reforms, consisting of eased foreign ownership guidelines that aim to promote more investment. The financial deficit is forecasted to widen to 5.6% of GDP next year in the middle of softer oil prices, while the current five-year lease freeze in Riyadh aims to ease inflationary pressures, though it might constrain future real estate supply.

Strong domestic fundamentalsThe UAE is also positioned for another strong year of efficiency, with GDP forecast to increase 5.6% in 2026 as non-oil sectors continue to expand. Tourism, trade and monetary services stay essential growth chauffeurs, supported by population growth and continual domestic demand. Dubai's economy grew 4.4% in the first half of 2025, showing broad-based non-oil strength.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Oil production is anticipated to select up again in the 2nd half of 2026, complementing continuous financial investment in infrastructure, technology and international trade collaborations. Hanadi Khalife, the Head of Middle East, ICAEW, said: "This quarter's outlook enhances how far the GCC has actually been available in structure diverse, durable and worldwide competitive economies.

Scott Livermore, ICAEW Economic Consultant, and Chief Financial Expert and Handling Director, Oxford Economics Middle East, said: "Saudi Arabia and the UAE are getting in 2026 with strong structures. Saudi non-oil activity is gaining pace, supported by robust demand and increasing investment, even as fiscal pressures increase.""The UAE continues to take advantage of solid domestic principles, a sharp uplift in government costs and continual diversity efforts.

How to Scale Regional Operations in 2026

GCC nations are pivoting towards a strategy of 'resilience over expansion' getting in 2026, as the region prepares for a worldwide landscape defined by softer oil costs, geopolitical fragmentation, and the rapid transition to an AI-enabled economy. According to a brand-new regional outlook by PwC, the GCC is transferring to insulate its growth from external shocks by deepening worldwide trade integration, protecting industrial supply chains, and performing a definitive shift from technology ambition to operational execution.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Negotiations totally free Trade Arrangements with China, the EU, and Japan are advancing, while talks with the UK have entered final drafting stages. The area is increasingly placing itself as a central center for east-west trade through the IndiaMiddle EastEurope Economic Passage (IMEC). To support domestic manufacturing, protecting important minerals has actually become a tactical concern.