Emerging Strategic Shifts Defining the 2026 GCC Economy

Verifying the growth 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 workers in the region utilizing 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 country are ready to deploy AI responsibly, well above the 76 percent global standard, supported by the Kingdom's data governance community, including national initiatives led by the Saudi Data and Expert System Authority.

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

Top organization leaders, policymakers and investors from the GCC and Latin America recently checked out how countries from the two regions can grow trade between each other in Dubai, UAE.More than 500 local and worldwide policymakers, heads of state, CEOs, magnate, financiers, and industry specialists participated in the first Global Service Forum Latin America held at the Atlantis Palm - Dubai.

Navigating the 2026 GCC Business Environment

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 area were $5.6 billion, a statement from organisers stated. Both areas count on each other for vital items.

In 2015 Latin America supplied nearly half the meat imports into the GCC and 36 per cent of the region's overall sugar imports, it added. Brazil is without a doubt the largest trading partner for countries in the region, followed by Argentina and Mexico. Amongst the Latin American states, the GCC relies on Brazil for meat (generally poultry), Argentina for cereals, Mexico for automobiles and Chile for wood products, said a statement.

The online forum was organised by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce under the style "Moving Synergies", explores how services can benefit from the changing patterns of worldwide need and what function Dubai can play in facilitating the next action in organization relations. Dubai Chamber takes a pioneering position not just in the UAE and in the GCC but worldwide too, by serving as a details and research centre, by supplying business paperwork, using legal services, helping with networking opportunities by means of signature business occasions and delivering almost every possible business option, it specified.

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

How to Maintain a Competitive Edge in 2026

SHARJAH (WAM) The GCC and larger Middle East region is poised for the next wave of investments in AI and tech-led sectors, with business-friendly and innovation-focused government policies bring in funds and skill, said magnate at the 9th edition of Sharjah Entrepreneurial Festival (SEF 2026). During a panel discussion on the first day of SEF 2026 examining "What Does the Next Year of Equity Capital Look Like", speakers concurred that the emerging regional financial investment landscape appears appealing.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Reacting to a question on regional startups' potential customers of taking advantage of current financial investments in digital infrastructure, Tala Al Jabri, Founder and Managing Partner of Wyld VC said: "We have a lot opting for us in the region: the low cost of energy, an extremely progressive federal government that is ahead in policy, policy and information personal privacy; and really strong educational organizations that are progressively looking at AI and ending up technical talent in AI."She added: "Our supreme goal is to see this area, specifically the GCC, become an AI superpower.

Our greatest motorist today is purchasing skill, since in the AI race, it's the technical skill that really wins."Concentrating on the appearance of the region for financiers, Christos Mastoras, Founder and Handling Partner of Iliad Partners, said: "I believe we are very lucky to onboard the 3 largest banks of Greece as LPs [Limited Partners] for investment in the area.

"International growth funds are being available in, which reveals clear indications of maturity of the ecosystem The capability of the UAE and regional governments to bring in talent; their innovation-first approach, abundance of capital here in addition to inflow internationally are the crucial structure blocks."Paula Tavangar, Chief Investment Officer at Injaz Capital said that within the region, Saudi Arabia is leading the variety of handle the highest worths, with 250 "biggest ticket size" deals taped in 2025 in the nation.