Industrial Excellence: a Strategic Driver for Regional Growth

Affirming the growth of AI in the region, a report launched by PwC earlier this month said that the usage of AI amongst the labor force in the Middle East continues to rise, with 75 percent of employees in the region using it in their tasks over the past 12 months.

In November, a report released by KPMG highlighted Saudi Arabia's progress in the innovation sector and stated that 84 percent of CEOs in the nation are ready to release AI properly, well above the 76 percent global criteria, supported by the Kingdom's information governance environment, consisting of nationwide initiatives led by the Saudi Data and Expert System Authority.

Policymakers are thinking holistically about how to make the region attractive, consisting of 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 nations from the two areas can grow trade between each other in Dubai, UAE.More than 500 local and international policymakers, presidents, CEOs, magnate, financiers, and industry specialists participated in the first Global Business Forum Latin America held at the Atlantis Palm - Dubai.

Navigating the Next Middle East Corporate Environment

In 2015 the GCC comprised 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 region were $5.6 billion, a statement from organisers said. Both areas rely on each other for vital products.

In 2015 Latin America provided nearly half the meat imports into the GCC and 36 percent of the region's overall sugar imports, it added. Brazil is by far the biggest trading partner for nations in the region, followed by Argentina and Mexico. Among the Latin American states, the GCC counts on Brazil for meat (generally poultry), Argentina for cereals, Mexico for lorries and Chile for wood products, said a statement.

The online forum was organised by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce under the theme "Shifting Synergies", checks out how services can gain from the altering patterns of international need and what role Dubai can play in facilitating the next step in service relations. Dubai Chamber takes a pioneering position not only in the UAE and in the GCC however worldwide too, by acting as an info and research centre, by supplying company documentation, providing legal services, facilitating networking chances by means of signature business occasions and delivering almost every imaginable business solution, it specified.

GCC growth will strengthen in 2026, led by faster expansion in hydrocarbons; non-oil growth will stay solid however slow slightly. Non-oil activity will be supported by population development, new industries, and public financial investment; inflation will remain soft, while financial policy will loosen up. Hydrocarbons sector development will speed up, balancing out in part lower oil prices; fiscal balances will be mixed, with surpluses in UAE and Qatar, however deficits continue somewhere else.

Industrial Excellence: a Key Pillar for 2026 Growth

SHARJAH (WAM) The GCC and wider 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, said service leaders at the 9th edition of Sharjah Entrepreneurial Festival (SEF 2026). Throughout a panel conversation on the first day of SEF 2026 analyzing "What Does the Next Year of Endeavor Capital Appear Like", speakers agreed that the emerging local investment landscape appears appealing.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Reacting to a concern on local startups' prospects of benefiting from current investments in digital infrastructure, Tala Al Jabri, Founder and Managing Partner of Wyld VC stated: "We have so much opting for us in the region: the low expense of energy, a very progressive federal government that is ahead in policy, guideline and information personal privacy; and really strong universities that are increasingly looking at AI and turning out technical skill in AI."She included: "Our ultimate goal is to see this region, particularly the GCC, end up being an AI superpower.

Our most significant driver right now is buying talent, because in the AI race, it's the technical skill that truly wins."Focusing on the appearance of the region for investors, Christos Mastoras, Creator and Managing Partner of Iliad Partners, said: "I believe we are extremely lucky to onboard the three largest banks of Greece as LPs [Limited Partners] for financial investment in the area.

"International growth funds are coming in, which shows clear signs of maturity of the community The ability of the UAE and local governments to bring in skill; their innovation-first approach, abundance of capital here in addition to inflow worldwide are the essential building blocks."Paula Tavangar, Chief Investment Officer at Injaz Capital stated that within the area, Saudi Arabia is leading the number of deals with the highest worths, with 250 "biggest ticket size" deals taped in 2025 in the country.