Emerging Strategic Trends Defining the 2026 Regional Market

Affirming the development of AI in the region, a report released by PwC earlier this month said that the usage of AI among the labor force in the Middle East continues to increase, with 75 percent of workers in the area utilizing it in their tasks over the previous 12 months.

In November, a report launched by KPMG highlighted Saudi Arabia's progress in the innovation sector and stated that 84 percent of CEOs in the country are prepared to release AI properly, well above the 76 percent worldwide criteria, supported by the Kingdom's information governance community, including national efforts led by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority.

Policymakers are thinking holistically about how to make the region appealing, including having more practical laws to enable experimentation and development," said the report.

Leading magnate, policymakers and investors from the GCC and Latin America just recently explored how nations from the 2 areas can grow trade in between each other in Dubai, UAE.More than 500 regional and international policymakers, presidents, CEOs, service leaders, investors, and market professionals participated in the very first Global Service Online forum Latin America held at the Atlantis Palm - Dubai.

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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 region were $5.6 billion, a declaration from organisers said. Both regions count on each other for vital products.

In 2015 Latin America provided nearly half the meat imports into the GCC and 36 percent of the region's total sugar imports, it included. Brazil is by far the largest trading partner for countries 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, stated a statement.

The forum was organised by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce under the theme "Shifting Synergies", explores how companies can benefit from the changing patterns of global demand and what role Dubai can play in facilitating the next step in company relations. Dubai Chamber takes a pioneering position not just in the UAE and in the GCC however worldwide too, by functioning as an info and research centre, by offering organization documents, using legal services, assisting in networking opportunities through signature service events and delivering practically every imaginable company solution, it mentioned.

GCC development will reinforce in 2026, led by faster growth in hydrocarbons; non-oil growth will stay solid however slow somewhat. Non-oil activity will be supported by population development, brand-new industries, and public investment; inflation will stay soft, while financial policy will loosen up. Hydrocarbons sector development will accelerate, balancing out in part lower oil costs; fiscal balances will be mixed, with surpluses in UAE and Qatar, but deficits continue somewhere else.

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SHARJAH (WAM) The GCC and larger Middle East area is poised for the next wave of financial investments in AI and tech-led sectors, with business-friendly and innovation-focused government policies bring in funds and skill, said organization leaders at the 9th edition of Sharjah Entrepreneurial Festival (SEF 2026). Throughout a panel discussion on the very first day of SEF 2026 taking a look at "What Does the Next Year of Equity Capital Look Like", speakers agreed 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, Creator and Managing Partner of Wyld VC said: "We have so much choosing us in the area: the low expense of energy, a very progressive federal government that is ahead in policy, regulation and data personal privacy; and really strong universities that are progressively looking at AI and turning out technical talent in AI."She included: "Our ultimate goal is to see this region, specifically the GCC, end up being an AI superpower.

Our biggest chauffeur right now is investing in skill, because in the AI race, it's the technical talent that actually wins.

"International development funds are can be found in, which shows clear signs of maturity of the community The ability of the UAE and regional federal governments to draw in skill; their innovation-first method, abundance of capital here in addition to inflow globally are the key foundation."Paula Tavangar, Chief Financial Investment Officer at Injaz Capital stated that within the area, Saudi Arabia is leading the number of handle the highest worths, with 250 "largest ticket size" deals tape-recorded in 2025 in the nation.