Crucial Middle East Market Research Trends in 2026

Israel responded with alarm to both the U.S. choice to lift sanctions on Syria and President Trump's meeting with Ahmed al-Sharaa. Prime Minister Netanyahu reportedly asked President Trump not to lift Syria sanctions in advance of Trump's journey to the region. Considering that the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, Israel has been wary of the previous jihadist now in control in Damascus.

It has also released troops in southern Syria, occupying an increasing area beyond the demilitarized zone separating the two countries. Moving forward, Israel will remain careful of the Sharaa federal government and will likely continue to apply military pressure on Syria, consisting of an expanded occupation of southern Syria and periodic air strikes.

Yet, Israel's openness to the Trump administration's efforts to broker a nonaggression pact between Israel and Syria remains an open question. Instead, Syria could end up being a locus of regional power competitors between Israel and Turkey as both look for to apply their influence over Syria's trajectory. Because the fall of Assad in December 2024, Saudi Arabia has lobbied hard for the United States to raise Syria sanctions, mentioning them as an essential challenge to the nation's restoration.

For MBS, the U.S. decision stood as an essential triumph emerging from Trump's trip. Going forward, Saudi Arabia will likely encourage the United States to continue along its course toward normalization with Syria.

Key Advantages of Operational Efficiency for 2026

, with no tip of a shift in policy. Going forward, Netanyahu can be expected to continue along the very same trajectory in Gaza, particularly given that a remarkable shift in U.S.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

On the contrary, as the international outcry worldwide ProtestVersus actions in Gaza grows and with an increasing number of U.S. allies moving to declare a Palestinian state, Israel is likely to entrench its position further, bolstered by strengthened prospect of possibility U.S. ongoing.

Riyadh immediately rejected Trump's proposal and repeated its refusal to stabilize relations with Israel in the absence of considerable progress towards the creation of a Palestinian state. The kingdom has likewise strongly criticized Israel for the absence of sufficient help streaming into Gaza. Following the August 22 famine statement, Saudi Arabia, while not calling out the United States, faulted the Israeli occupation as the cause of the "humanitarian disaster" in Gaza.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Its leading function in pressing for a two-state solution at the 80th UN General Assembly stands as its most prominent effort in this regard. The kingdom will likely continue its behind-the-scenes lobbying of the United States to pressure Israel to relent on these demands, holding out on any development towards normalization with Israel in the absence of movement on these problems.

Driving Operational Change for Modern GCC

Its engagement in the Middle East is shaping the shapes of the emerging local orderwhether by default or design. Specifically, its decisions on Iran, Syria, and Gaza all discuss core difficulties in the region and hold the prospective to move each in a positive instructions. Peril and deepening dispute stand on the flip side of each opportunity.

As global trade patterns straighten, a new financial investment passage is taking shape, connecting capital from the Gulf to Latin America. Sovereign wealth funds, conglomerates, and family offices from the Gulf Cooperation Council ("") are investing billions throughout Latin America's energy, agriculture, fintech, and facilities sectors. Trade in between Mexico and GCC states increased more than 33% in between 2021 and 2022, while non-oil trade with the UAE has actually almost doubled over the previous years.

3 Company sentiment reflects this momentum64% of Latin American executives plan to broaden engagement with the Gulf, particularly in agriculture, renewable energy, and digital services. 4 Highlighting this momentum, Saudi Arabia recently opened its very first Chamber of Commerce workplace in Miami, further indicating the growing links in between Gulf capital and the Americas.