Emerging Strategic Trends Defining the 2026 Regional Economy

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

In November, a report launched by KPMG highlighted Saudi Arabia's progress in the technology sector and said that 84 percent of CEOs in the nation are ready to release AI responsibly, well above the 76 percent international criteria, supported by the Kingdom's data governance ecosystem, consisting of national efforts led by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority.

Policymakers are believing holistically about how to make the region appealing, consisting of having more practical laws to permit experimentation and growth," said the report.

Top magnate, policymakers and investors from the GCC and Latin America recently explored how nations from the 2 areas can grow trade in between each other in Dubai, UAE.More than 500 local and worldwide policymakers, heads of state, CEOs, magnate, financiers, and industry specialists went to the first Global Company Online forum Latin America held at the Atlantis Palm - Dubai.

How to Maintain a Competitive Advantage 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 said. Both regions count on each other for important products.

In 2015 Latin America provided nearly half the meat imports into the GCC and 36 per cent of the region's total sugar imports, it included. Brazil is without a doubt the largest trading partner for nations in the region, followed by Argentina and Mexico. Among the Latin American states, the GCC relies on Brazil for meat (mainly poultry), Argentina for cereals, Mexico for automobiles and Chile for wood products, said a declaration.

The online forum was arranged by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce under the style "Shifting Synergies", explores how organizations can benefit from the changing patterns of worldwide demand and what function Dubai can play in assisting in the next action in service relations. Dubai Chamber takes a pioneering position not only in the UAE and in the GCC however worldwide too, by functioning as an info and research study centre, by offering service documents, using legal services, assisting in networking chances via signature company occasions and providing practically every conceivable service service, it specified.

GCC development will strengthen in 2026, led by faster expansion in hydrocarbons; non-oil growth will remain strong however slow a little. Non-oil activity will be supported by population development, brand-new markets, and public financial investment; inflation will remain soft, while monetary 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, but deficits continue in other places.

Navigating the Next Middle East Business Landscape

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

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Responding to a concern on local start-ups' potential customers of taking advantage of recent financial investments in digital infrastructure, Tala Al Jabri, Founder and Managing Partner of Wyld VC said: "We have a lot choosing us in the region: the low expense of energy, a very progressive government that is ahead in policy, guideline and data privacy; and actually strong educational institutions that are increasingly looking at AI and ending up technical talent in AI."She added: "Our supreme goal is to see this region, specifically the GCC, end up being an AI superpower.

Our greatest motorist right now is investing in skill, since in the AI race, it's the technical talent that actually wins."Concentrating on the appearance of the region for financiers, Christos Mastoras, Creator and Managing Partner of Iliad Partners, said: "I believe we are really lucky to onboard the 3 largest banks of Greece as LPs [Limited Partners] for financial investment in the region.

"International growth funds are being available in, which shows clear signs of maturity of the community The ability of the UAE and regional governments to attract talent; their innovation-first technique, abundance of capital here as well as inflow worldwide are the key foundation."Paula Tavangar, Chief Investment Officer at Injaz Capital said that within the area, Saudi Arabia is leading the number of deals with the greatest worths, with 250 "biggest ticket size" offers recorded in 2025 in the nation.