Emerging Future Shifts Shaping the 2026 GCC Economy

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

In November, a report launched by KPMG highlighted Saudi Arabia's progress in the technology sector and said that 84 percent of CEOs in the nation are ready to release AI responsibly, well above the 76 percent worldwide benchmark, supported by the Kingdom's information governance environment, including national efforts led by the Saudi Data and Expert System Authority.

Policymakers are believing holistically about how to make the region attractive, including having more practical laws to allow for experimentation and development," stated the report.

Leading magnate, policymakers and financiers from the GCC and Latin America recently explored how countries from the two areas can grow trade between each other in Dubai, UAE.More than 500 regional and international policymakers, heads of state, CEOs, magnate, investors, and market professionals participated in the very first Global Company Forum Latin America held at the Atlantis Palm - Dubai.

Emerging Strategic Shifts Defining the 2026 Regional Economy

In 2015 the GCC made up 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 declaration from organisers said. Both regions rely on each other for important products.

In 2015 Latin America supplied almost half the meat imports into the GCC and 36 per cent of the area's overall sugar imports, it included. Brazil is by far the biggest 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, said a statement.

The forum was arranged by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce under the style "Moving Synergies", checks out how businesses can gain from the changing patterns of global demand and what role Dubai can play in assisting in the next step in company relations. Dubai Chamber takes a pioneering position not only in the UAE and in the GCC but globally too, by acting as an information and research centre, by supplying service paperwork, providing legal services, facilitating networking opportunities by means of signature business occasions and providing almost every possible company solution, it mentioned.

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

Navigating the 2026 Middle East Corporate Landscape

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 attracting funds and talent, stated magnate at the 9th edition of Sharjah Entrepreneurial Festival (SEF 2026). Throughout a panel discussion on the first day of SEF 2026 analyzing "What Does the Next Year of Equity Capital Look Like", speakers concurred that the emerging local financial investment landscape appears promising.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Reacting to a question on regional startups' potential customers of benefiting from current financial investments in digital infrastructure, Tala Al Jabri, Creator and Handling Partner of Wyld VC stated: "We have so much going for us in the region: the low cost of energy, an extremely progressive federal government that is ahead in policy, guideline and data privacy; and truly strong universities that are significantly taking a look at AI and turning out technical talent in AI."She included: "Our ultimate goal is to see this area, specifically the GCC, become an AI superpower.

Our greatest motorist right now is investing in talent, because in the AI race, it's the technical skill that really wins."Focusing on the beauty of the region for financiers, Christos Mastoras, Founder and Managing Partner of Iliad Partners, stated: "I think we are really fortunate to onboard the 3 largest banks of Greece as LPs [Limited Partners] for financial investment in the region.

"International development funds are can be found in, which shows clear signs of maturity of the environment The ability of the UAE and regional governments to bring in skill; their innovation-first technique, abundance of capital here in addition to 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 highest values, with 250 "largest ticket size" deals recorded in 2025 in the country.