How to Scale Regional Strategy in 2026

Verifying the growth of AI in the region, a report launched by PwC previously this month stated that the usage of AI among the labor force in the Middle East continues to rise, with 75 percent of employees in the region utilizing 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 stated that 84 percent of CEOs in the country are prepared to deploy AI responsibly, well above the 76 percent worldwide benchmark, supported by the Kingdom's data governance environment, including national efforts led by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority.

Policymakers are believing holistically about how to make the region attractive, consisting of having more pragmatic laws to enable experimentation and growth," stated the report.

Leading business leaders, policymakers and financiers from the GCC and Latin America recently explored how nations from the two regions can grow trade between each other in Dubai, UAE.More than 500 regional and global policymakers, presidents, CEOs, magnate, investors, and market specialists went to the very first Global Company Forum Latin America held at the Atlantis Palm - Dubai.

Evaluating Traditional Systems and Future Business Strategies

In 2015 the GCC made up of the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, imported $11 billion worth of products from Latin America. And exports to Latin America from the area were $5.6 billion, a declaration from organisers said. Both regions rely on each other for essential products.

In 2015 Latin America supplied 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 largest trading partner for nations in the area, followed by Argentina and Mexico. Among the Latin American states, the GCC relies on Brazil for meat (primarily poultry), Argentina for cereals, Mexico for vehicles and Chile for wood products, said a statement.

The forum was organised by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce under the theme "Moving Synergies", explores how businesses can take advantage of the altering patterns of global demand and what function Dubai can play in helping with the next step in company relations. Dubai Chamber takes a pioneering position not just in the UAE and in the GCC however internationally too, by serving as a details and research centre, by supplying service documentation, using legal services, facilitating networking opportunities by means of signature business occasions and delivering nearly every imaginable service solution, it mentioned.

GCC development will reinforce in 2026, led by faster expansion in hydrocarbons; non-oil development will stay strong however sluggish a little. Non-oil activity will be supported by population growth, new markets, and public investment; inflation will stay soft, while monetary policy will loosen up. Hydrocarbons sector growth will accelerate, balancing out in part lower oil rates; fiscal balances will be combined, with surpluses in UAE and Qatar, however deficits continue in other places.

Comparing Legacy Systems and 2026 Business Frameworks

SHARJAH (WAM) The GCC and wider 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 talent, stated magnate at the 9th edition of Sharjah Entrepreneurial Festival (SEF 2026). During a panel conversation on the first day of SEF 2026 analyzing "What Does the Next Year of Equity Capital Appear Like", speakers concurred that the emerging regional investment landscape appears appealing.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Responding to a question on regional startups' potential customers of benefiting from recent investments in digital facilities, Tala Al Jabri, Founder and Managing Partner of Wyld VC stated: "We have a lot going for us in the area: the low cost of energy, a very progressive federal government that is ahead in policy, policy and data personal privacy; and really strong universities that are increasingly taking a look at AI and ending up technical talent in AI."She added: "Our ultimate objective is to see this region, specifically the GCC, become an AI superpower.

Our biggest chauffeur right now is investing in skill, since in the AI race, it's the technical skill that really wins.

"International development funds are coming in, which reveals clear signs of maturity of the community The capability of the UAE and regional federal governments to draw in talent; their innovation-first approach, abundance of capital here along with inflow worldwide are the key foundation."Paula Tavangar, Chief Financial Investment Officer at Injaz Capital stated that within the area, Saudi Arabia is leading the variety of handle the highest worths, with 250 "biggest ticket size" offers tape-recorded in 2025 in the nation.