Emerging Strategic Trends Defining the 2026 Regional Market

Verifying the development of AI in the region, a report launched by PwC earlier this month said that the use of AI among the labor force in the Middle East continues to rise, with 75 percent of workers in the area utilizing 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 all set to deploy AI responsibly, well above the 76 percent worldwide benchmark, supported by the Kingdom's information governance ecosystem, including nationwide efforts led by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority.

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

Top magnate, policymakers and financiers from the GCC and Latin America recently explored how nations from the two areas can grow trade between each other in Dubai, UAE.More than 500 local and global policymakers, presidents, CEOs, organization leaders, financiers, and market experts went to the first Global Service Online forum Latin America held at the Atlantis Palm - Dubai.

Methods for Scaling Regional Operations in 2026

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 region were $5.6 billion, a declaration from organisers said. Both areas rely on each other for essential products.

In 2015 Latin America provided almost half the meat imports into the GCC and 36 per cent of the region's overall sugar imports, it included. Brazil is without a doubt the largest trading partner for nations in the area, followed by Argentina and Mexico. Amongst 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 declaration.

The online forum was arranged by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce under the style "Shifting Synergies", explores how businesses can take advantage of the changing patterns of global demand and what role Dubai can play in facilitating the next action in company relations. Dubai Chamber takes a pioneering position not only in the UAE and in the GCC however internationally too, by acting as an information and research centre, by supplying service documents, providing legal services, facilitating networking chances through signature business events and delivering practically every imaginable business solution, it specified.

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

Will Strategic Analytics Drive Dubai Corporate Success?

SHARJAH (WAM) The GCC and broader 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 talent, stated organization leaders at the 9th edition of Sharjah Entrepreneurial Festival (SEF 2026). During a panel discussion on the first day of SEF 2026 taking a look at "What Does the Next Year of Equity Capital Look Like", speakers agreed that the emerging regional investment landscape appears appealing.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Responding to a concern on local start-ups' prospects of gaining from current investments in digital facilities, Tala Al Jabri, Creator and Managing Partner of Wyld VC stated: "We have a lot opting for us in the area: the low expense of energy, an extremely progressive government that is ahead in policy, regulation and information personal privacy; and truly strong universities that are progressively taking a look at AI and ending up technical talent in AI."She added: "Our ultimate objective is to see this area, particularly the GCC, end up being an AI superpower.

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

"International growth funds are being available in, which reveals clear indications of maturity of the ecosystem The ability of the UAE and regional federal governments to draw in talent; their innovation-first technique, abundance of capital here along with inflow globally are the key structure blocks."Paula Tavangar, Chief Financial Investment Officer at Injaz Capital said that within the region, Saudi Arabia is leading the variety of handle the greatest values, with 250 "largest ticket size" deals tape-recorded in 2025 in the country.