Navigating the 2026 GCC Business Environment

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

In November, a report released by KPMG highlighted Saudi Arabia's progress in the technology sector and stated that 84 percent of CEOs in the nation are prepared to release AI properly, well above the 76 percent international criteria, supported by the Kingdom's data governance community, consisting of nationwide efforts led by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority.

Policymakers are thinking holistically about how to make the region appealing, including having more practical laws to enable for experimentation and growth," stated the report.

Leading company leaders, policymakers and investors from the GCC and Latin America just recently checked out how nations from the 2 areas can grow trade between each other in Dubai, UAE.More than 500 regional and international policymakers, heads of state, CEOs, magnate, financiers, and market experts attended the first Global Service Online forum Latin America held at the Atlantis Palm - Dubai.

How to Secure a Leading Advantage in Dubai

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 rely on each other for necessary items.

In 2015 Latin America supplied nearly half the meat imports into the GCC and 36 per cent of the region's total sugar imports, it included. Brazil is by far the largest trading partner for nations in the area, followed by Argentina and Mexico. Among the Latin American states, the GCC depends on Brazil for meat (mainly poultry), Argentina for cereals, Mexico for cars and Chile for wood products, stated a statement.

The forum was arranged by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce under the theme "Moving Synergies", explores how companies can take advantage of the altering 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 internationally too, by serving as an info and research study centre, by supplying service paperwork, providing legal services, helping with networking chances via signature organization events and delivering practically every imaginable business service, it stated.

GCC development will enhance in 2026, led by faster growth in hydrocarbons; non-oil development will remain solid however slow somewhat. Non-oil activity will be supported by population development, new industries, and public financial investment; inflation will stay soft, while financial policy will loosen. Hydrocarbons sector development will speed up, offsetting in part lower oil rates; financial balances will be blended, with surpluses in UAE and Qatar, but deficits continue somewhere else.

Evaluating Traditional Models and Future Business Frameworks

SHARJAH (WAM) The GCC and wider Middle East region is poised for the next wave of investments in AI and tech-led sectors, with business-friendly and innovation-focused federal government policies bring in funds and talent, said service leaders at the 9th edition of Sharjah Entrepreneurial Festival (SEF 2026). Throughout a panel conversation on the first day of SEF 2026 examining "What Does the Next Year of Equity Capital Look Like", speakers agreed that the emerging local investment landscape appears promising.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Responding to a concern on local startups' prospects of gaining from recent investments in digital facilities, Tala Al Jabri, Creator and Managing Partner of Wyld VC said: "We have so much opting for us in the region: the low cost of energy, an extremely progressive federal government that is ahead in policy, guideline and data personal privacy; and actually strong universities that are increasingly looking at AI and ending up technical talent in AI."She included: "Our ultimate objective is to see this region, particularly the GCC, become an AI superpower.

Our biggest motorist right now is buying talent, due to the fact that in the AI race, it's the technical skill that really wins."Focusing on the appearance of the area for financiers, Christos Mastoras, Creator and Handling Partner of Iliad Partners, stated: "I believe we are extremely fortunate to onboard the three biggest banks of Greece as LPs [Limited Partners] for investment in the area.

"International growth funds are can be found in, which shows clear indications of maturity of the community The capability of the UAE and local federal governments to bring in skill; their innovation-first method, abundance of capital here in addition to inflow internationally are the crucial building blocks."Paula Tavangar, Chief Financial Investment Officer at Injaz Capital stated that within the region, Saudi Arabia is leading the number of offers with the highest values, with 250 "largest ticket size" deals tape-recorded in 2025 in the country.