Predicting the 2026 Middle East Business Landscape

Verifying the development of AI in the region, a report released by PwC earlier this month stated that the use of AI amongst the workforce in the Middle East continues to increase, with 75 percent of employees in the area using it in their jobs over the past 12 months.

In November, a report launched by KPMG highlighted Saudi Arabia's development in the technology 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 environment, consisting of national initiatives led by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority.

Policymakers are thinking holistically about how to make the region attractive, consisting of having more pragmatic laws to enable experimentation and growth," stated the report.

Top business leaders, policymakers and investors from the GCC and Latin America recently explored 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, investors, and market professionals attended the very first Global Company Online forum Latin America held at the Atlantis Palm - Dubai.

Evaluating Legacy Models and Future Economic Strategies

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 rely on each other for vital products.

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 included. Brazil is without a doubt the biggest trading partner for nations in the area, followed by Argentina and Mexico. Amongst the Latin American states, the GCC relies on Brazil for meat (generally poultry), Argentina for cereals, Mexico for vehicles and Chile for wood products, said a declaration.

The online forum was organised by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce under the theme "Shifting Synergies", checks out how organizations can benefit from the changing patterns of international demand and what function Dubai can play in helping with the next step in business relations. Dubai Chamber takes a pioneering position not only in the UAE and in the GCC but globally too, by functioning as a details and research centre, by providing business paperwork, offering legal services, facilitating networking chances via signature service events and delivering nearly every imaginable service option, it mentioned.

GCC development will strengthen in 2026, led by faster growth in hydrocarbons; non-oil growth will stay solid however sluggish a little. Non-oil activity will be supported by population development, brand-new industries, and public investment; inflation will stay soft, while financial policy will loosen. Hydrocarbons sector development will speed up, offsetting in part lower oil costs; financial balances will be combined, with surpluses in UAE and Qatar, but deficits continue in other places.

Predicting the Next GCC Business Environment

SHARJAH (WAM) The GCC and wider Middle East area 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, stated company leaders at the 9th edition of Sharjah Entrepreneurial Festival (SEF 2026). Throughout 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 concurred that the emerging local financial investment landscape appears appealing.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Reacting to a concern on local startups' prospects of taking advantage of recent financial investments in digital infrastructure, Tala Al Jabri, Founder and Managing 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, guideline and data privacy; and actually strong educational institutions that are significantly looking at AI and ending up technical skill in AI."She included: "Our ultimate objective is to see this region, specifically the GCC, become an AI superpower.

Our most significant driver right now is buying talent, due to the fact that in the AI race, it's the technical skill that really wins."Concentrating on the appearance of the area for investors, Christos Mastoras, Creator and Handling Partner of Iliad Partners, stated: "I believe we are very lucky to onboard the 3 largest banks of Greece as LPs [Limited Partners] for financial investment in the area.

"International growth funds are can be found in, which shows clear indications of maturity of the environment The capability of the UAE and local federal governments to draw in skill; their innovation-first method, abundance of capital here as well as inflow worldwide are the key structure blocks."Paula Tavangar, Chief Investment Officer at Injaz Capital stated that within the region, Saudi Arabia is leading the number of offers with the greatest values, with 250 "largest ticket size" offers recorded in 2025 in the country.