Predicting the 2026 GCC Business Landscape

Affirming the growth of AI in the area, a report launched by PwC previously this month stated that the usage of AI amongst the labor force in the Middle East continues to rise, with 75 percent of workers 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 said that 84 percent of CEOs in the country are all set to deploy AI properly, well above the 76 percent international standard, supported by the Kingdom's information governance community, consisting of nationwide efforts led by the Saudi Data and Expert System Authority.

Policymakers are believing holistically about how to make the region attractive, consisting of having more practical laws to allow for experimentation and development," stated the report.

Leading company leaders, policymakers and investors from the GCC and Latin America just recently explored how countries from the two areas can grow trade between each other in Dubai, UAE.More than 500 regional and global policymakers, presidents, CEOs, magnate, investors, and industry professionals participated in the very first Global Organization Online forum Latin America held at the Atlantis Palm - Dubai.

Driving Dubai Corporate Growth through Strategy

In 2015 the GCC made up of the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, imported $11 billion worth of items from Latin America. And exports to Latin America from the region were $5.6 billion, a statement from organisers stated. Both regions rely on each other for necessary items.

In 2015 Latin America provided nearly half the meat imports into the GCC and 36 per cent of the area's overall sugar imports, it included. Brazil is by far the largest trading partner for countries in the region, followed by Argentina and Mexico. Among the Latin American states, the GCC relies on Brazil for meat (primarily poultry), Argentina for cereals, Mexico for automobiles and Chile for wood products, stated a declaration.

The online forum was arranged by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce under the style "Moving Synergies", explores how businesses can take advantage of the changing patterns of global demand and what function Dubai can play in assisting in the next step in business relations. Dubai Chamber takes a pioneering position not only in the UAE and in the GCC however internationally too, by acting as an information and research study centre, by offering business documentation, providing legal services, assisting in networking chances by means of signature service occasions and providing almost every possible business service, it mentioned.

GCC development will enhance in 2026, led by faster expansion in hydrocarbons; non-oil growth will stay strong however slow a little. Non-oil activity will be supported by population development, new industries, and public investment; inflation will stay soft, while monetary policy will loosen. Hydrocarbons sector growth will speed up, offsetting in part lower oil costs; fiscal balances will be combined, with surpluses in UAE and Qatar, however deficits persist elsewhere.

How to Optimise Regional Operations in 2026

SHARJAH (WAM) The GCC and broader Middle East area is poised for the next wave of financial investments in AI and tech-led sectors, with business-friendly and innovation-focused federal government policies bring in funds and talent, said magnate at the 9th edition of Sharjah Entrepreneurial Celebration (SEF 2026). During a panel conversation on the first day of SEF 2026 taking a look at "What Does the Next Year of Venture Capital Look Like", speakers concurred that the emerging regional investment landscape appears promising.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Reacting to a question on local startups' potential customers of benefiting 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 region: the low expense of energy, a really progressive government that is ahead in policy, policy and data personal privacy; and truly strong academic organizations that are progressively looking at AI and ending up technical talent in AI."She added: "Our supreme objective is to see this area, particularly the GCC, end up being an AI superpower.

Our greatest driver right now is investing in skill, since in the AI race, it's the technical talent that actually wins."Focusing on the beauty of the region for investors, Christos Mastoras, Founder 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 development funds are being available in, which reveals clear indications of maturity of the ecosystem The capability of the UAE and regional federal governments to draw in talent; their innovation-first method, abundance of capital here in addition to inflow globally are the crucial building blocks."Paula Tavangar, Chief Investment Officer at Injaz Capital said that within the region, Saudi Arabia is leading the number of handle the greatest values, with 250 "biggest ticket size" offers tape-recorded in 2025 in the country.