Emerging Strategic Trends Shaping the 2026 Regional Market

Affirming the growth of AI in the area, a report launched by PwC earlier this month stated that the usage of AI among the workforce in the Middle East continues to rise, with 75 percent of staff members in the area utilizing it in their tasks 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 prepared to deploy AI responsibly, well above the 76 percent global 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, including having more practical laws to permit experimentation and growth," said the report.

Top service leaders, policymakers and investors from the GCC and Latin America recently checked out how nations from the two areas can grow trade in between each other in Dubai, UAE.More than 500 local and global policymakers, presidents, CEOs, business leaders, financiers, and market professionals went to the very first Global Business Online forum Latin America held at the Atlantis Palm - Dubai.

Industrial Excellence: a Strategic Pillar for 2026 Growth

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 area were $5.6 billion, a declaration from organisers said. Both areas rely on each other for necessary items.

In 2015 Latin America provided almost half the meat imports into the GCC and 36 percent of the area's overall sugar imports, it included. Brazil is by far the biggest trading partner for nations in the region, followed by Argentina and Mexico. Amongst the Latin American states, the GCC counts on Brazil for meat (generally poultry), Argentina for cereals, Mexico for vehicles and Chile for wood products, stated a statement.

The forum was organised by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce under the theme "Moving Synergies", checks out how services can benefit from the altering patterns of international demand and what function Dubai can play in helping with the next step in service relations. Dubai Chamber takes a pioneering position not only in the UAE and in the GCC but worldwide too, by acting as an info and research centre, by providing business documents, offering legal services, assisting in networking chances through signature organization events and providing almost every conceivable company solution, it stated.

GCC growth will reinforce in 2026, led by faster expansion in hydrocarbons; non-oil development will remain strong but sluggish a little. Non-oil activity will be supported by population growth, new industries, and public financial investment; inflation will stay soft, while financial policy will loosen. Hydrocarbons sector growth will accelerate, balancing out in part lower oil rates; financial balances will be combined, with surpluses in UAE and Qatar, however deficits persist somewhere else.

How to Secure a Leading Edge in Dubai

SHARJAH (WAM) The GCC and broader Middle East area is poised for the next wave of investments in AI and tech-led sectors, with business-friendly and innovation-focused federal government policies attracting funds and talent, said magnate at the 9th edition of Sharjah Entrepreneurial Celebration (SEF 2026). Throughout a panel discussion on the very 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 local startups' prospects of gaining from recent investments in digital infrastructure, Tala Al Jabri, Founder and Handling Partner of Wyld VC stated: "We have so much opting for us in the area: the low cost of energy, a really progressive government that is ahead in policy, policy and data privacy; and actually strong educational institutions that are progressively looking at AI and turning out technical skill in AI."She added: "Our ultimate objective is to see this area, particularly the GCC, end up being an AI superpower.

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

"International development funds are coming in, which reveals clear signs of maturity of the environment The capability of the UAE and local governments to bring in talent; their innovation-first method, abundance of capital here along with inflow globally are the essential foundation."Paula Tavangar, Chief Investment Officer at Injaz Capital stated that within the region, Saudi Arabia is leading the number of handle the highest values, with 250 "biggest ticket size" deals taped in 2025 in the country.