Emerging Future Trends Shaping the 2026 Regional Market

Affirming the growth of AI in the region, a report launched by PwC previously this month said that the use of AI among the workforce in the Middle East continues to rise, with 75 percent of employees in the area using it in their tasks over the past 12 months.

In November, a report launched by KPMG highlighted Saudi Arabia's development in the technology sector and stated that 84 percent of CEOs in the country are ready to release AI properly, well above the 76 percent global criteria, supported by the Kingdom's data governance ecosystem, including national efforts led by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority.

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

Top magnate, policymakers and investors from the GCC and Latin America just recently explored how countries from the two regions can grow trade in between each other in Dubai, UAE.More than 500 regional and global policymakers, heads of state, CEOs, magnate, investors, and market specialists went to the first Global Company Online forum Latin America held at the Atlantis Palm - Dubai.

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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 area were $5.6 billion, a statement from organisers said. Both areas rely on each other for necessary items.

In 2015 Latin America provided nearly half the meat imports into the GCC and 36 percent of the area's total 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 (primarily poultry), Argentina for cereals, Mexico for automobiles and Chile for wood items, stated a declaration.

The online forum was arranged by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce under the style "Moving Synergies", checks out how businesses can gain from the altering patterns of global need and what function Dubai can play in facilitating the next action in organization relations. Dubai Chamber takes a pioneering position not only in the UAE and in the GCC but globally too, by functioning as an information and research centre, by supplying service paperwork, offering legal services, facilitating networking chances by means of signature business events and providing almost every conceivable organization solution, it mentioned.

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

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SHARJAH (WAM) The GCC and broader 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 attracting funds and talent, said business leaders at the 9th edition of Sharjah Entrepreneurial Celebration (SEF 2026). Throughout a panel discussion on the first day of SEF 2026 examining "What Does the Next Year of Venture Capital Look Like", speakers agreed that the emerging regional financial investment landscape appears appealing.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Responding to a concern on regional start-ups' potential customers of gaining from current investments in digital facilities, Tala Al Jabri, Founder and Managing Partner of Wyld VC stated: "We have a lot choosing us in the region: the low cost of energy, a very progressive government that is ahead in policy, regulation and information privacy; and truly strong universities that are increasingly taking a look at AI and ending up technical talent in AI."She added: "Our ultimate goal is to see this area, specifically the GCC, end up being an AI superpower.

Our most significant driver right now is buying skill, due to the fact that in the AI race, it's the technical talent that actually wins."Focusing on the beauty of the region for investors, Christos Mastoras, Creator and Handling Partner of Iliad Partners, said: "I believe we are really fortunate to onboard the three largest banks of Greece as LPs [Limited Partners] for investment in the area.

"International development funds are being available in, which shows clear signs of maturity of the environment The capability of the UAE and regional federal governments to draw in skill; their innovation-first approach, abundance of capital here in addition to inflow internationally are the key foundation."Paula Tavangar, Chief Investment Officer at Injaz Capital stated that within the region, Saudi Arabia is leading the variety of offers with the greatest worths, with 250 "largest ticket size" deals taped in 2025 in the nation.