Emerging Future Shifts Shaping the 2026 GCC Economy

Verifying the development of AI in the area, a report released by PwC earlier this month said that the use of AI amongst the labor force in the Middle East continues to rise, with 75 percent of employees in the region utilizing 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 ready to release AI properly, well above the 76 percent global benchmark, supported by the Kingdom's information governance ecosystem, consisting of nationwide initiatives led by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority.

Policymakers are thinking holistically about how to make the region attractive, including having more practical laws to permit experimentation and development," said the report.

Top magnate, policymakers and financiers from the GCC and Latin America just recently explored how nations from the two areas can grow trade in between each other in Dubai, UAE.More than 500 local and international policymakers, presidents, CEOs, magnate, investors, and market experts went to the very first Global Business Forum Latin America held at the Atlantis Palm - Dubai.

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In 2015 the GCC made up 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 stated. Both regions count on each other for vital products.

In 2015 Latin America supplied almost half the meat imports into the GCC and 36 percent of the area's total sugar imports, it included. Brazil is without a doubt the largest trading partner for countries 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 automobiles and Chile for wood products, stated a declaration.

The online forum was arranged by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce under the theme "Shifting Synergies", explores how services can take advantage of the changing patterns of global need and what role Dubai can play in assisting in the next step in company relations. Dubai Chamber takes a pioneering position not just in the UAE and in the GCC however worldwide too, by acting as a details and research study centre, by providing service documents, offering legal services, assisting in networking opportunities through signature service events and providing practically every conceivable service solution, it specified.

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

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SHARJAH (WAM) The GCC and broader Middle East area is poised for the next wave of investments in AI and tech-led sectors, with business-friendly and innovation-focused federal government policies attracting funds and talent, stated magnate at the 9th edition of Sharjah Entrepreneurial Celebration (SEF 2026). During a panel discussion on the very first day of SEF 2026 examining "What Does the Next Year of Venture Capital Appear Like", speakers agreed that the emerging regional investment landscape appears promising.

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Reacting to a question on local startups' prospects of gaining from current investments in digital infrastructure, Tala Al Jabri, Creator and Handling Partner of Wyld VC stated: "We have so much opting for us in the region: the low cost of energy, a really progressive government that is ahead in policy, guideline and data personal privacy; and really strong universities that are significantly taking a look at AI and turning out 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 chauffeur today is investing in talent, because in the AI race, it's the technical skill that truly wins."Focusing on the appearance of the region for financiers, Christos Mastoras, Founder and Managing Partner of Iliad Partners, stated: "I believe we are very fortunate to onboard the three biggest banks of Greece as LPs [Limited Partners] for investment in the region.

"International development funds are being available in, which reveals clear signs of maturity of the environment The ability of the UAE and regional federal governments to attract skill; their innovation-first approach, abundance of capital here along with inflow globally are the key building blocks."Paula Tavangar, Chief Financial Investment Officer at Injaz Capital said that within the region, Saudi Arabia is leading the number of offers with the highest values, with 250 "largest ticket size" offers taped in 2025 in the nation.