Navigating the 2026 Middle East Corporate Landscape

Affirming the growth of AI in the area, a report released by PwC previously this month said that the usage of AI among the labor force in the Middle East continues to rise, with 75 percent of employees in the region using it in their jobs over the past 12 months.

In November, a report launched by KPMG highlighted Saudi Arabia's progress in the innovation sector and said that 84 percent of CEOs in the nation are ready to release AI properly, well above the 76 percent global standard, supported by the Kingdom's information governance environment, consisting of nationwide efforts led by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority.

Policymakers are thinking holistically about how to make the area appealing, consisting of having more practical laws to permit experimentation and development," stated the report.

Leading magnate, policymakers and investors from the GCC and Latin America recently checked out how nations from the two areas can grow trade between each other in Dubai, UAE.More than 500 local and global policymakers, heads of state, CEOs, magnate, investors, and market experts participated in the first Global Organization Forum Latin America held at the Atlantis Palm - Dubai.

Operational Excellence: a Key Driver for 2026 Growth

In 2015 the GCC comprised of the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, imported $11 billion worth of products from Latin America. And exports to Latin America from the area were $5.6 billion, a statement from organisers said. Both regions depend on each other for vital items.

In 2015 Latin America supplied almost half the meat imports into the GCC and 36 per cent of the area's total sugar imports, it included. Brazil is without a doubt the biggest trading partner for countries in the area, followed by Argentina and Mexico. Among the Latin American states, the GCC depends on Brazil for meat (primarily poultry), Argentina for cereals, Mexico for cars and Chile for wood products, said a declaration.

The forum was organised by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce under the theme "Moving Synergies", explores how companies can take advantage of the changing patterns of worldwide need and what function Dubai can play in assisting in the next action in service relations. Dubai Chamber takes a pioneering position not just in the UAE and in the GCC however globally too, by acting as an info and research centre, by offering service paperwork, using legal services, facilitating networking opportunities by means of signature business occasions and delivering almost every conceivable service service, it stated.

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

Emerging Strategic Trends Defining the 2026 Regional Economy

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

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Reacting to a concern on regional start-ups' potential customers of benefiting from current investments in digital infrastructure, Tala Al Jabri, Founder and Handling Partner of Wyld VC said: "We have so much choosing us in the area: the low expense of energy, a very progressive government that is ahead in policy, policy and information privacy; and truly strong universities that are progressively looking at AI and turning out technical talent in AI."She added: "Our ultimate goal is to see this region, specifically the GCC, end up being an AI superpower.

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

"International development funds are coming in, which reveals clear signs of maturity of the ecosystem The capability of the UAE and local governments to draw in talent; their innovation-first technique, abundance of capital here along with inflow internationally are the essential foundation."Paula Tavangar, Chief Financial Investment Officer at Injaz Capital said that within the region, Saudi Arabia is leading the variety of handle the greatest worths, with 250 "largest ticket size" offers tape-recorded in 2025 in the nation.