Navigating the 2026 Middle East Corporate Environment

Affirming the development of AI in the region, a report released by PwC earlier this month said that the use of AI among the workforce in the Middle East continues to increase, with 75 percent of employees in the area utilizing it in their jobs over the past 12 months.

In November, a report launched by KPMG highlighted Saudi Arabia's development in the technology sector and stated that 84 percent of CEOs in the country are prepared to deploy AI responsibly, well above the 76 percent international standard, supported by the Kingdom's information governance community, consisting of nationwide initiatives led by the Saudi Data and Expert System Authority.

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

Leading service leaders, policymakers and investors from the GCC and Latin America recently checked out how nations from the 2 areas can grow trade between each other in Dubai, UAE.More than 500 local and global policymakers, heads of state, CEOs, service leaders, financiers, and industry experts participated in the very first Global Service Forum Latin America held at the Atlantis Palm - Dubai.

Emerging Strategic Shifts Shaping the 2026 GCC Economy

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 statement from organisers said. Both regions count on each other for essential products.

In 2015 Latin America supplied almost half the meat imports into the GCC and 36 per cent of the area's total sugar imports, it added. Brazil is by far the largest trading partner for countries in the area, followed by Argentina and Mexico. Amongst the Latin American states, the GCC relies on Brazil for meat (mainly poultry), Argentina for cereals, Mexico for vehicles and Chile for wood items, said a declaration.

The forum was arranged by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce under the theme "Shifting Synergies", explores how organizations can take advantage of the altering patterns of worldwide need and what function Dubai can play in facilitating the next step in organization relations. Dubai Chamber takes a pioneering position not just in the UAE and in the GCC however internationally too, by functioning as an info and research study centre, by supplying business documentation, offering legal services, assisting in networking chances via signature business occasions and delivering practically every imaginable business option, it mentioned.

GCC growth will strengthen in 2026, led by faster growth in hydrocarbons; non-oil development will remain strong however sluggish a little. Non-oil activity will be supported by population development, new industries, and public financial investment; inflation will stay soft, while financial policy will loosen. Hydrocarbons sector development will accelerate, balancing out in part lower oil costs; fiscal balances will be combined, with surpluses in UAE and Qatar, however deficits continue elsewhere.

Comparing Legacy Models and 2026 Economic Frameworks

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

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Reacting to a question on local startups' potential customers of taking advantage of current investments in digital facilities, Tala Al Jabri, Founder and Handling Partner of Wyld VC stated: "We have so much going for us in the region: the low cost of energy, an extremely progressive government that is ahead in policy, regulation and data personal privacy; and really strong academic organizations that are progressively taking a look at AI and ending up technical talent in AI."She added: "Our ultimate goal is to see this region, particularly the GCC, become an AI superpower.

Our biggest driver right now is investing in talent, since in the AI race, it's the technical talent that really wins.

"International development funds are being available in, which reveals clear signs of maturity of the ecosystem The capability of the UAE and regional federal governments to draw in talent; their innovation-first approach, abundance of capital here along with inflow globally are the crucial building blocks."Paula Tavangar, Chief Investment Officer at Injaz Capital said that within the area, Saudi Arabia is leading the number of handle the greatest values, with 250 "largest ticket size" offers tape-recorded in 2025 in the country.