How to Secure a Competitive Edge in 2026

Verifying the growth of AI in the region, a report launched by PwC earlier this month stated that the use of AI among the labor force in the Middle East continues to increase, with 75 percent of staff members in the region utilizing it in their jobs 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 nation are ready to release AI responsibly, well above the 76 percent global benchmark, supported by the Kingdom's information governance community, including nationwide initiatives led by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority.

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

Top business leaders, policymakers and investors from the GCC and Latin America just recently checked out 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, magnate, financiers, and industry specialists attended the first Global Business Online forum Latin America held at the Atlantis Palm - Dubai.

How to Secure a Competitive Advantage in 2026

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 declaration from organisers said. Both regions count on each other for important products.

In 2015 Latin America supplied nearly half the meat imports into the GCC and 36 percent of the area's overall sugar imports, it included. Brazil is by far the biggest trading partner for nations in the region, followed by Argentina and Mexico. Amongst the Latin American states, the GCC counts on Brazil for meat (mainly poultry), Argentina for cereals, Mexico for cars and Chile for wood products, said a statement.

The forum was arranged by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce under the style "Moving Synergies", explores how organizations can take advantage of the changing patterns of international demand and what function Dubai can play in facilitating the next action in service relations. Dubai Chamber takes a pioneering position not just in the UAE and in the GCC however internationally too, by serving as an info and research centre, by offering service paperwork, offering legal services, facilitating networking chances via signature organization occasions and providing practically every conceivable organization option, it mentioned.

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

Analysing 2026 GCC Research for Future Insights

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 drawing in funds and skill, said service leaders at the 9th edition of Sharjah Entrepreneurial Celebration (SEF 2026). Throughout a panel conversation on the first day of SEF 2026 examining "What Does the Next Year of Equity Capital Appear Like", speakers agreed that the emerging local investment landscape appears promising.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Reacting to a concern on local startups' potential customers of gaining from recent investments in digital infrastructure, Tala Al Jabri, Creator and Managing Partner of Wyld VC said: "We have a lot going for us in the area: the low cost of energy, a very progressive federal government that is ahead in policy, guideline and information privacy; and truly strong universities that are significantly looking at AI and turning out technical skill in AI."She included: "Our supreme objective is to see this region, particularly the GCC, end up being an AI superpower.

Our most significant driver right now is purchasing skill, due to the fact that in the AI race, it's the technical skill that really wins."Concentrating on the appearance of the region for financiers, Christos Mastoras, Creator and Handling Partner of Iliad Partners, stated: "I think we are really lucky to onboard the 3 largest banks of Greece as LPs [Limited Partners] for investment in the region.

"International growth funds are being available in, which shows clear indications of maturity of the environment The ability of the UAE and local governments to draw in skill; their innovation-first approach, abundance of capital here in addition to inflow internationally are the key building blocks."Paula Tavangar, Chief Investment Officer at Injaz Capital said that within the area, Saudi Arabia is leading the number of deals with the highest values, with 250 "biggest ticket size" offers recorded in 2025 in the nation.