Driving Regional Corporate Expansion through Innovation

El Houni asked the speakers to share what keeps them "on-point" at work and what suggestions they have for the audience. Hamad Al Hajri, CEO and Founder of Snoonu said it was "crucial to build borders" between work and individual life and take short holidays to "detach" from the workplace.

Karim Benkirane, CCO of Du, stated: "If you make the people you work with pleased, you will make the client pleased, who will then make the investors happy."Ambareen Musa, CEO for Revolut GCC, stated the ability to "not stress" is the crucial to finding a solution for problems.

Today, we're assembling more than 3000 meetings in between investors and 119 Gulf-listed companies with a combined value of $2.4 trillion at the HSBC GCC Exchanges Conference 2026, in London. We're combining financiers, companies, exchanges, and policymakers to discuss what is changing in the region, and what comes next, including the growth and ongoing development 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 area's economic expansion in 2026, supported by strong private-sector efficiency, resistant domestic need and renewed financial investment momentum, according to the most recent ICAEW Economic Insight Q4 2025 report, produced by Oxford Economics. The GCC is expected to outshine most global regions peers next year, with regional GDP projection to grow by 4.4%. Throughout the GCC, non-energy activity is predicted to broaden by 4.1% in 2026, driven by strong labour markets, enhancing credit conditions and increasing financial investment in technology and AI-related infrastructure.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Methods for Optimising GCC Strategy in 2026

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

Growth will be supported by industrial growth and policy reforms, consisting of eased foreign ownership guidelines that intend to stimulate additional investment. The financial deficit is predicted to broaden to 5.6% of GDP next year in the middle of softer oil rates, while the current five-year rent freeze in Riyadh intends to alleviate inflationary pressures, though it might constrain future housing supply.

Strong domestic fundamentalsThe UAE is also positioned for another strong year of performance, with GDP projection to rise 5.6% in 2026 as non-oil sectors continue to broaden. Tourism, trade and financial services remain essential development drivers, supported by population development 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 expected to pick up once again in the 2nd half of 2026, matching ongoing investment in facilities, technology and international trade partnerships. Hanadi Khalife, the Head of Middle East, ICAEW, said: "This quarter's outlook reinforces how far the GCC has actually come in structure varied, durable and globally competitive economies.

Scott Livermore, ICAEW Economic Consultant, and Chief Economist and Managing Director, Oxford Economics Middle East, stated: "Saudi Arabia and the UAE are going into 2026 with strong foundations. Saudi non-oil activity is acquiring rate, supported by robust demand and increasing investment, even as fiscal pressures increase.""The UAE continues to take advantage of strong domestic basics, a sharp uplift in government spending and continual diversity efforts.

The Operational Advantages of Deep Market Research

GCC countries are pivoting towards a method of 'resilience over expansion' going into 2026, as the area prepares for an international landscape specified by softer oil rates, geopolitical fragmentation, and the quick shift to an AI-enabled economy. According to a brand-new local outlook by PwC, the GCC is transferring to insulate its development from external shocks by deepening international trade integration, protecting commercial supply chains, and carrying out a decisive shift from innovation aspiration to functional application.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Settlements for Free Trade Contracts with China, the EU, and Japan are advancing, while talks with the UK have actually entered last drafting phases. The area is significantly positioning itself as a central center for east-west trade through the IndiaMiddle EastEurope Economic Passage (IMEC). To support domestic production, securing important minerals has ended up being a strategic concern.