Emerging Strategic Trends Shaping the 2026 Regional Economy

Verifying the development of AI in the region, a report launched by PwC previously this month stated that the usage of AI amongst the workforce in the Middle East continues to rise, with 75 percent of employees in the area using it in their jobs over the previous 12 months.

In November, a report released by KPMG highlighted Saudi Arabia's development in the innovation sector and stated that 84 percent of CEOs in the nation are all set to deploy AI properly, well above the 76 percent worldwide benchmark, supported by the Kingdom's information governance community, consisting of nationwide initiatives led by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority.

Policymakers are believing holistically about how to make the area attractive, including having more practical laws to permit experimentation and development," stated the report.

Leading organization leaders, policymakers and financiers 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 international policymakers, heads of state, CEOs, organization leaders, financiers, and market specialists went to the very first Global Business Online forum Latin America held at the Atlantis Palm - Dubai.

Accelerating Dubai Corporate Expansion through Strategy

In 2015 the GCC made up 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 areas depend on each other for vital products.

In 2015 Latin America provided almost 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 largest trading partner for nations in the region, followed by Argentina and Mexico. Amongst the Latin American states, the GCC depends on Brazil for meat (mainly poultry), Argentina for cereals, Mexico for cars and Chile for wood items, stated a statement.

The online forum was organised by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce under the theme "Shifting Synergies", explores how companies can take advantage of the changing patterns of global demand and what role Dubai can play in assisting in the next action in company 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 study centre, by providing business documentation, offering legal services, assisting in networking opportunities through signature company occasions and providing almost every possible organization solution, it specified.

GCC growth will enhance in 2026, led by faster expansion in hydrocarbons; non-oil development will stay solid however sluggish slightly. Non-oil activity will be supported by population development, brand-new industries, and public investment; inflation will stay soft, while financial policy will loosen up. Hydrocarbons sector development will accelerate, offsetting in part lower oil rates; financial balances will be mixed, with surpluses in UAE and Qatar, but deficits continue elsewhere.

The Operational Benefits of Deep Market Research

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

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Reacting to a concern on local start-ups' prospects of gaining from current financial investments in digital infrastructure, Tala Al Jabri, Creator and Managing Partner of Wyld VC said: "We have so much opting for us in the area: the low cost of energy, a very progressive federal government that is ahead in policy, regulation and data privacy; and truly strong universities that are increasingly looking at AI and ending up technical skill in AI."She included: "Our supreme objective is to see this area, specifically the GCC, end up being an AI superpower.

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

"International growth funds are can be found in, which shows clear signs of maturity of the ecosystem The ability of the UAE and local governments to draw in skill; their innovation-first technique, abundance of capital here along with inflow globally are the essential foundation."Paula Tavangar, Chief Financial Investment Officer at Injaz Capital stated that within the area, Saudi Arabia is leading the variety of handle the highest worths, with 250 "biggest ticket size" deals tape-recorded in 2025 in the country.