How to Scale Regional Strategy in 2026

Verifying the growth of AI in the region, a report released by PwC previously this month said that the use of AI amongst 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 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 prepared to release AI properly, well above the 76 percent international standard, supported by the Kingdom's data governance ecosystem, consisting of nationwide initiatives led by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority.

Policymakers are thinking holistically about how to make the area attractive, including having more pragmatic laws to enable for experimentation and development," said the report.

Leading company leaders, policymakers and financiers from the GCC and Latin America just recently explored how countries from the two regions can grow trade between each other in Dubai, UAE.More than 500 local and worldwide policymakers, heads of state, CEOs, magnate, financiers, and market experts participated in the first Global Business Online forum Latin America held at the Atlantis Palm - Dubai.

Emerging Future 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 items from Latin America. And exports to Latin America from the region were $5.6 billion, a declaration from organisers stated. Both areas rely on each other for necessary items.

In 2015 Latin America supplied almost half the meat imports into the GCC and 36 percent of the area's overall sugar imports, it added. Brazil is without a doubt the biggest trading partner for countries in the region, followed by Argentina and Mexico. Amongst the Latin American states, the GCC counts on Brazil for meat (primarily poultry), Argentina for cereals, Mexico for vehicles and Chile for wood items, said a statement.

The forum was arranged by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce under the style "Shifting Synergies", explores how companies can take advantage of the changing patterns of global need and what function Dubai can play in facilitating the next step in business relations. Dubai Chamber takes a pioneering position not just in the UAE and in the GCC however worldwide too, by serving as an info and research centre, by offering organization documents, providing legal services, helping with networking opportunities by means of signature organization occasions and providing nearly every possible company service, it mentioned.

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

Will Strategic Research Define Dubai Corporate Success?

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 government policies attracting funds and skill, said magnate at the 9th edition of Sharjah Entrepreneurial Celebration (SEF 2026). During a panel conversation on the first day of SEF 2026 taking a look at "What Does the Next Year of Equity Capital Look Like", speakers agreed that the emerging local financial investment landscape appears promising.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Responding to a question on local startups' prospects of benefiting from current financial investments in digital infrastructure, Tala Al Jabri, Founder and Managing Partner of Wyld VC stated: "We have so much choosing us in the region: the low expense of energy, a really progressive federal government that is ahead in policy, regulation and data privacy; and truly strong instructional organizations that are increasingly taking a look at AI and turning out technical talent in AI."She added: "Our supreme goal is to see this region, particularly the GCC, end up being an AI superpower.

Our most significant chauffeur right now is investing in talent, since in the AI race, it's the technical talent that actually wins.

"International growth funds are can be found in, which reveals clear indications of maturity of the community The capability of the UAE and regional governments to bring in talent; their innovation-first approach, abundance of capital here along with inflow globally are the key foundation."Paula Tavangar, Chief Investment Officer at Injaz Capital said that within the region, Saudi Arabia is leading the number of handle the greatest worths, with 250 "biggest ticket size" offers tape-recorded in 2025 in the country.