Emerging Future Shifts Defining the 2026 Regional Economy

Verifying the development of AI in the region, a report launched by PwC previously this month said that the use of AI amongst the labor force in the Middle East continues to rise, with 75 percent of employees in the region utilizing it in their tasks over the previous 12 months.

In November, a report launched by KPMG highlighted Saudi Arabia's progress in the technology sector and stated that 84 percent of CEOs in the country are ready to deploy AI responsibly, well above the 76 percent international standard, supported by the Kingdom's data governance environment, including national efforts led by the Saudi Data and Expert System Authority.

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

Top organization leaders, policymakers and financiers from the GCC and Latin America just recently checked out how countries from the 2 regions can grow trade between each other in Dubai, UAE.More than 500 local and international policymakers, heads of state, CEOs, magnate, financiers, and industry professionals went to the first Global Service Forum Latin America held at the Atlantis Palm - Dubai.

Navigating the 2026 GCC Business Environment

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 statement from organisers stated. Both regions depend on each other for necessary items.

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 included. Brazil is by far the largest trading partner for nations in the area, followed by Argentina and Mexico. Amongst the Latin American states, the GCC depends on Brazil for meat (primarily poultry), Argentina for cereals, Mexico for cars and Chile for wood items, said a declaration.

The online forum was arranged by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce under the style "Moving Synergies", explores how companies can benefit from the changing patterns of worldwide need and what function Dubai can play in assisting in the next step in organization relations. Dubai Chamber takes a pioneering position not only in the UAE and in the GCC however internationally too, by acting as a details and research centre, by providing organization paperwork, using legal services, helping with networking opportunities by means of signature organization events and delivering nearly every conceivable business solution, it stated.

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

Emerging Strategic Trends Shaping the 2026 Regional Economy

SHARJAH (WAM) The GCC and broader Middle East region is poised for the next wave of financial 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 conversation on the very first day of SEF 2026 examining "What Does the Next Year of Endeavor Capital Look Like", speakers concurred that the emerging regional investment landscape appears promising.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Reacting to a concern on local start-ups' prospects of benefiting from current investments in digital infrastructure, Tala Al Jabri, Founder and Handling Partner of Wyld VC said: "We have a lot choosing us in the region: the low cost of energy, an extremely progressive government that is ahead in policy, guideline and information privacy; and really strong universities that are increasingly taking a look at AI and turning out technical skill in AI."She included: "Our ultimate objective is to see this area, particularly the GCC, end up being an AI superpower.

Our most significant motorist today is purchasing skill, due to the fact that in the AI race, it's the technical talent that actually wins."Focusing on the beauty of the region for financiers, Christos Mastoras, Founder and Managing Partner of Iliad Partners, said: "I believe we are very lucky to onboard the 3 largest banks of Greece as LPs [Limited Partners] for financial investment in the region.

"International growth funds are coming in, which shows clear indications of maturity of the environment The ability of the UAE and local federal governments to attract skill; their innovation-first technique, abundance of capital here along with inflow worldwide are the crucial structure blocks."Paula Tavangar, Chief Financial Investment Officer at Injaz Capital stated that within the area, Saudi Arabia is leading the number of offers with the highest values, with 250 "largest ticket size" deals tape-recorded in 2025 in the nation.