How to Maintain a Leading Advantage in 2026

Affirming the development of AI in the region, a report released 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 staff members in the region utilizing it in their tasks over the past 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 prepared to deploy AI responsibly, well above the 76 percent global criteria, supported by the Kingdom's information governance community, including national initiatives led by the Saudi Data and Expert System Authority.

Policymakers are believing holistically about how to make the region attractive, including having more pragmatic laws to permit experimentation and growth," stated the report.

Top magnate, policymakers and financiers from the GCC and Latin America recently explored how countries from the 2 areas can grow trade between each other in Dubai, UAE.More than 500 local and global policymakers, presidents, CEOs, magnate, investors, and industry specialists attended the first Global Service Online forum Latin America held at the Atlantis Palm - Dubai.

Predicting the 2026 GCC Business Landscape

In 2015 the GCC comprised 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 statement from organisers said. Both regions count on each other for important items.

In 2015 Latin America provided 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 largest trading partner for nations in the area, followed by Argentina and Mexico. Amongst the Latin American states, the GCC counts on Brazil for meat (primarily poultry), Argentina for cereals, Mexico for cars and Chile for wood items, stated a statement.

The online forum was arranged by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce under the style "Moving Synergies", checks out how companies can take advantage of the changing patterns of global demand and what function Dubai can play in assisting in the next action in service relations. Dubai Chamber takes a pioneering position not only in the UAE and in the GCC but globally too, by acting as an info and research centre, by offering service documents, offering legal services, facilitating networking chances through signature service occasions and delivering nearly every possible company service, it mentioned.

GCC development will strengthen in 2026, led by faster growth in hydrocarbons; non-oil growth will remain solid however slow slightly. Non-oil activity will be supported by population development, new industries, and public financial investment; inflation will stay soft, while monetary policy will loosen up. Hydrocarbons sector development will speed up, balancing out in part lower oil prices; financial balances will be blended, with surpluses in UAE and Qatar, but deficits persist elsewhere.

Driving Regional Corporate Growth through Innovation

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 drawing in funds and talent, stated company leaders at the 9th edition of Sharjah Entrepreneurial Festival (SEF 2026). During a panel conversation on the first day of SEF 2026 examining "What Does the Next Year of Venture Capital Look Like", speakers concurred that the emerging regional financial investment landscape appears appealing.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Reacting to a question on regional startups' prospects of taking advantage of recent financial investments in digital infrastructure, Tala Al Jabri, Creator and Managing Partner of Wyld VC said: "We have a lot opting for us in the region: the low expense of energy, a really progressive government that is ahead in policy, regulation and information privacy; and truly strong universities that are increasingly looking at AI and turning out technical skill in AI."She added: "Our supreme goal is to see this region, specifically the GCC, end up being an AI superpower.

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

"International growth 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 attract talent; their innovation-first approach, abundance of capital here in addition to inflow globally are the crucial foundation."Paula Tavangar, Chief Financial Investment Officer at Injaz Capital said that within the area, Saudi Arabia is leading the number of handle the greatest worths, with 250 "largest ticket size" deals recorded in 2025 in the country.