Emerging Future Shifts Defining the 2026 Regional Market

Verifying the development of AI in the area, a report released by PwC previously this month said that the usage of AI among the workforce in the Middle East continues to increase, with 75 percent of workers in the area using it in their jobs over the past 12 months.

In November, a report released by KPMG highlighted Saudi Arabia's development in the innovation sector and said that 84 percent of CEOs in the nation are prepared to deploy AI responsibly, well above the 76 percent international criteria, supported by the Kingdom's data governance community, consisting of nationwide initiatives led by the Saudi Data and Expert System Authority.

Policymakers are believing holistically about how to make the area attractive, consisting of having more pragmatic laws to enable for experimentation and development," stated the report.

Top service leaders, policymakers and investors from the GCC and Latin America just recently explored how countries from the two regions can grow trade in between each other in Dubai, UAE.More than 500 regional and international policymakers, heads of state, CEOs, service leaders, financiers, and industry professionals participated in the first Global Business Online forum Latin America held at the Atlantis Palm - Dubai.

Predicting the Next GCC Business Environment

In 2015 the GCC comprised of the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, imported $11 billion worth of products from Latin America. And exports to Latin America from the area were $5.6 billion, a declaration from organisers stated. Both areas count on each other for vital products.

In 2015 Latin America provided nearly half the meat imports into the GCC and 36 per cent of the area's total sugar imports, it added. Brazil is without a doubt the biggest trading partner for countries in the area, followed by Argentina and Mexico. Among the Latin American states, the GCC counts on Brazil for meat (mainly poultry), Argentina for cereals, Mexico for cars and Chile for wood products, said a statement.

The forum was arranged by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce under the theme "Moving Synergies", explores how services can gain from the altering patterns of global demand and what function Dubai can play in facilitating the next step in service relations. Dubai Chamber takes a pioneering position not just in the UAE and in the GCC but internationally too, by acting as an information and research centre, by providing service documentation, using legal services, facilitating networking opportunities through signature service occasions and delivering nearly every conceivable service solution, it stated.

GCC growth will strengthen in 2026, led by faster expansion in hydrocarbons; non-oil development will remain strong however slow slightly. Non-oil activity will be supported by population growth, brand-new markets, and public investment; inflation will remain soft, while financial policy will loosen up. Hydrocarbons sector growth will accelerate, offsetting in part lower oil prices; financial balances will be blended, with surpluses in UAE and Qatar, but deficits continue in other places.

Driving Regional Corporate Expansion through Strategy

SHARJAH (WAM) The GCC and wider Middle East region is poised for the next wave of investments in AI and tech-led sectors, with business-friendly and innovation-focused federal government policies bring in funds and skill, said company leaders at the 9th edition of Sharjah Entrepreneurial Festival (SEF 2026). Throughout a panel discussion on the very first day of SEF 2026 analyzing "What Does the Next Year of Endeavor Capital Appear Like", speakers agreed that the emerging local financial investment landscape appears appealing.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Reacting to a question on regional startups' potential customers of benefiting from recent investments in digital infrastructure, Tala Al Jabri, Creator and Managing Partner of Wyld VC stated: "We have a lot opting for us in the region: the low cost of energy, a very progressive government that is ahead in policy, policy and information personal privacy; and really strong instructional organizations that are increasingly taking a look at AI and ending up technical talent in AI."She included: "Our ultimate goal is to see this region, particularly the GCC, end up being an AI superpower.

Our biggest motorist today is buying talent, since in the AI race, it's the technical skill that really wins."Focusing on the appearance of the area for investors, Christos Mastoras, Creator and Handling Partner of Iliad Partners, said: "I believe we are really lucky to onboard the 3 biggest banks of Greece as LPs [Limited Partners] for financial investment in the region.

"International development funds are being available in, which reveals clear indications of maturity of the environment The ability of the UAE and regional governments to attract talent; their innovation-first method, abundance of capital here along with inflow internationally are the essential foundation."Paula Tavangar, Chief Financial Investment Officer at Injaz Capital said that within the region, Saudi Arabia is leading the variety of handle the greatest worths, with 250 "biggest ticket size" deals recorded in 2025 in the country.