Driving Regional Industrial Growth through Strategy

El Houni asked the speakers to share what keeps them "on-point" at work and what advice they have for the audience. Hamad Al Hajri, CEO and Founder of Snoonu stated it was "crucial to develop borders" between work and individual life and take brief vacations to "disconnect" from the office.

Karim Benkirane, CCO of Du, stated: "If you make the people you work with happy, you will make the consumer happy, who will then make the investors delighted."Ambareen Musa, CEO for Revolut GCC, stated the ability to "not stress" is the crucial to discovering a service for issues.

Today, we're convening more than 3000 meetings in between financiers and 119 Gulf-listed companies with a combined worth of $2.4 trillion at the HSBC GCC Exchanges Conference 2026, in London. We're uniting financiers, business, exchanges, and policymakers to discuss what is altering in the area, and what comes next, including the expansion and continuous development of the Gulf's capital markets, and the region's growing function in global networks of capital and trade.

Saudi Arabia and UAE are poised to lead the Gulf area's economic expansion in 2026, supported by strong private-sector performance, durable domestic need and renewed financial investment momentum, according to the newest ICAEW Economic Insight Q4 2025 report, produced by Oxford Economics. The GCC is anticipated to outperform most international regions peers next year, with local GDP forecast to grow by 4.4%. Throughout the GCC, non-energy activity is predicted to expand by 4.1% in 2026, driven by strong labour markets, enhancing credit conditions and rising financial investment in technology and AI-related facilities.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Emerging Strategic Shifts Shaping the 2026 Regional Economy

Oil earnings will be under pressure in the first half of 2026, production is expected to rise once again in the 2nd half of 2026, supporting the region's medium-term outlook, it stated. Saudi Arabia will stay a significant contributor to GCC momentum, with GDP forecast to grow 4.3% in 2026.

Growth will be supported by commercial growth and policy reforms, consisting of relieved foreign ownership guidelines that aim to stimulate additional financial investment. The fiscal deficit is projected to widen to 5.6% of GDP next year amid softer oil rates, while the recent five-year rent freeze in Riyadh intends to alleviate inflationary pressures, though it might constrain future real estate supply.

Strong domestic fundamentalsThe UAE is likewise positioned for another strong year of performance, with GDP projection to rise 5.6% in 2026 as non-oil sectors continue to broaden. Tourist, trade and financial services stay key development drivers, supported by population growth and sustained domestic demand. Dubai's economy grew 4.4% in the very first half of 2025, showing broad-based non-oil strength.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Oil production is expected to choose up again in the second half of 2026, matching ongoing financial investment in facilities, technology and global trade collaborations. Hanadi Khalife, the Head of Middle East, ICAEW, said: "This quarter's outlook enhances how far the GCC has come in building varied, resilient and worldwide competitive economies.

Scott Livermore, ICAEW Economic Advisor, and Chief Economic Expert and Managing Director, Oxford Economics Middle East, stated: "Saudi Arabia and the UAE are getting in 2026 with strong structures. Saudi non-oil activity is gaining pace, supported by robust need and rising financial investment, even as financial pressures increase.""The UAE continues to gain from strong domestic basics, a sharp uplift in federal government costs and sustained diversity efforts.

Emerging Strategic Trends Defining the 2026 GCC Economy

GCC countries are pivoting towards a strategy of 'resilience over expansion' entering 2026, as the region gets ready for a global landscape specified by softer oil prices, geopolitical fragmentation, and the rapid shift to an AI-enabled economy. According to a brand-new local outlook by PwC, the GCC is moving to insulate its development from external shocks by deepening international trade combination, securing commercial supply chains, and executing a definitive shift from innovation ambition to operational implementation.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Negotiations totally free Trade Arrangements with China, the EU, and Japan are advancing, while talks with the UK have actually gotten in final drafting phases. The region is increasingly positioning itself as a main hub for east-west trade through the IndiaMiddle EastEurope Economic Corridor (IMEC). To support domestic manufacturing, protecting vital minerals has ended up being a tactical concern.