Operational Excellence: a Strategic Driver for 2026 Growth

Affirming the growth of AI in the area, a report released by PwC previously this month stated that the usage of AI among the workforce in the Middle East continues to increase, with 75 percent of employees in the region using it in their jobs over the past 12 months.

In November, a report released by KPMG highlighted Saudi Arabia's progress in the technology sector and stated that 84 percent of CEOs in the nation are ready to deploy AI responsibly, well above the 76 percent global benchmark, supported by the Kingdom's data governance environment, consisting of national initiatives led by the Saudi Data and Expert System Authority.

Policymakers are thinking holistically about how to make the region appealing, including having more practical laws to enable experimentation and growth," said the report.

Leading magnate, policymakers and investors from the GCC and Latin America recently checked out how countries from the two areas can grow trade between each other in Dubai, UAE.More than 500 local and global policymakers, heads of state, CEOs, magnate, financiers, and industry specialists participated in the very first Global Business Online forum Latin America held at the Atlantis Palm - Dubai.

How to Maintain a Competitive Advantage in Dubai

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 region were $5.6 billion, a statement from organisers said. Both areas depend on each other for necessary products.

In 2015 Latin America supplied almost half the meat imports into the GCC and 36 per cent of the region's total sugar imports, it included. Brazil is without a doubt the biggest trading partner for nations in the area, followed by Argentina and Mexico. Amongst the Latin American states, the GCC depends on Brazil for meat (mainly poultry), Argentina for cereals, Mexico for automobiles and Chile for wood items, said a declaration.

The forum was arranged by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce under the theme "Shifting Synergies", checks out how services can benefit from the altering patterns of global demand and what function Dubai can play in facilitating the next action in service 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 centre, by supplying organization paperwork, using legal services, facilitating networking opportunities by means of signature service occasions and providing nearly every possible company service, it stated.

GCC development will enhance in 2026, led by faster growth in hydrocarbons; non-oil growth will stay solid but slow somewhat. Non-oil activity will be supported by population development, new industries, and public investment; inflation will stay soft, while monetary policy will loosen. Hydrocarbons sector growth will speed up, balancing out in part lower oil rates; fiscal balances will be combined, with surpluses in UAE and Qatar, however deficits continue elsewhere.

Industrial Excellence: a Key Driver for 2026 Success

SHARJAH (WAM) The GCC and larger Middle East region is poised for the next wave of investments in AI and tech-led sectors, with business-friendly and innovation-focused government policies drawing in funds and skill, stated company leaders at the 9th edition of Sharjah Entrepreneurial Celebration (SEF 2026). During a panel discussion on the first day of SEF 2026 taking a look at "What Does the Next Year of Equity Capital Appear Like", speakers concurred that the emerging regional investment landscape appears promising.

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Responding to a concern on local start-ups' prospects of taking advantage of recent financial investments in digital facilities, Tala Al Jabri, Founder and Managing Partner of Wyld VC said: "We have a lot going for us in the area: the low cost of energy, an extremely progressive government that is ahead in policy, policy and data personal privacy; and actually strong universities that are significantly looking at AI and turning out technical skill in AI."She added: "Our supreme objective is to see this region, particularly the GCC, become an AI superpower.

Our most significant chauffeur today is buying talent, since in the AI race, it's the technical skill that truly wins."Focusing on the attractiveness of the region for financiers, Christos Mastoras, Creator and Handling Partner of Iliad Partners, said: "I believe we are really lucky to onboard the 3 largest banks of Greece as LPs [Limited Partners] for financial investment in the area.

"International development funds are coming in, which shows clear signs of maturity of the ecosystem The ability of the UAE and regional governments to bring in skill; their innovation-first technique, abundance of capital here as well as inflow internationally are the crucial building blocks."Paula Tavangar, Chief Investment Officer at Injaz Capital stated that within the region, Saudi Arabia is leading the variety of handle the greatest values, with 250 "biggest ticket size" offers tape-recorded in 2025 in the nation.