Navigating the 2026 Middle East Business Environment

Verifying the growth of AI in the region, a report released by PwC earlier this month stated that the usage of AI among the labor force in the Middle East continues to rise, with 75 percent of staff members in the region using it in their tasks over the past 12 months.

In November, a report released by KPMG highlighted Saudi Arabia's development in the technology sector and said that 84 percent of CEOs in the country are prepared to release AI responsibly, well above the 76 percent global benchmark, supported by the Kingdom's information governance community, including national efforts led by the Saudi Data and Expert System Authority.

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

Top magnate, policymakers and investors from the GCC and Latin America just recently checked out how countries from the 2 areas can grow trade between each other in Dubai, UAE.More than 500 local and international policymakers, heads of state, CEOs, magnate, financiers, and market professionals went to the first Global Organization Online forum Latin America held at the Atlantis Palm - Dubai.

How to Maintain a Leading Advantage in 2026

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 statement from organisers stated. Both regions depend on each other for important products.

In 2015 Latin America provided nearly half the meat imports into the GCC and 36 per cent of the region's overall sugar imports, it included. Brazil is by far the biggest trading partner for countries in the region, 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 items, stated a statement.

The forum was arranged by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce under the style "Moving Synergies", explores how businesses can benefit from the changing patterns of international need and what function Dubai can play in assisting in the next step in service relations. Dubai Chamber takes a pioneering position not just in the UAE and in the GCC however worldwide too, by serving as a details and research centre, by offering organization documents, offering legal services, helping with networking opportunities through signature service occasions and providing almost every possible service solution, it stated.

GCC development will reinforce in 2026, led by faster expansion in hydrocarbons; non-oil growth will remain strong but 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 growth will accelerate, balancing out in part lower oil rates; financial balances will be mixed, with surpluses in UAE and Qatar, but deficits persist elsewhere.

How to Optimise Regional Strategy in 2026

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 federal government policies bring in funds and talent, said magnate at the 9th edition of Sharjah Entrepreneurial Celebration (SEF 2026). During a panel conversation on the very 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 investment landscape appears promising.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Reacting to a question on local start-ups' potential customers of benefiting from current investments in digital facilities, Tala Al Jabri, Founder and Managing Partner of Wyld VC said: "We have a lot going for us in the region: the low cost of energy, a really progressive government that is ahead in policy, regulation and data personal privacy; and actually strong universities that are increasingly looking at AI and ending up technical skill in AI."She added: "Our supreme objective is to see this area, specifically the GCC, end up being an AI superpower.

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

"International development funds are being available in, which shows clear signs of maturity of the environment The ability of the UAE and local governments to bring in skill; their innovation-first method, abundance of capital here along with inflow internationally are the crucial foundation."Paula Tavangar, Chief Investment Officer at Injaz Capital said that within the area, Saudi Arabia is leading the number of offers with the greatest values, with 250 "largest ticket size" deals taped in 2025 in the nation.