Crucial Middle East Business Research Trends for 2026

Israel reacted with alarm to both the U.S. choice to lift sanctions on Syria and President Trump's conference with Ahmed al-Sharaa. Prime Minister Netanyahu apparently asked President Trump not to raise Syria sanctions in advance of Trump's trip to the area. Moreover, because the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, Israel has actually been cautious of the former jihadist now in control in Damascus.

It has likewise deployed troops in southern Syria, occupying an increasing location beyond the demilitarized zone separating the 2 countries. Moving forward, Israel will stay cautious of the Sharaa federal government and will likely continue to apply military pressure on Syria, including an expanded profession of southern Syria and occasional air campaign.

Yet, Israel's openness to the Trump administration's efforts to broker a nonaggression pact between Israel and Syria remains an open concern. Instead, Syria could become a locus of local power competition between Israel and Turkey as both seek to exert their impact over Syria's trajectory. Because the fall of Assad in December 2024, Saudi Arabia has lobbied hard for the United States to raise Syria sanctions, citing them as a crucial barrier to the nation's reconstruction.

For MBS, the U.S. decision stood as a crucial success emerging from Trump's journey. Moving forward, Saudi Arabia will likely encourage the United States to continue along its course towards normalization with Syria. It might promote the repeal of the Caesar sanctions, which should be carried out by Congress. Riyadh might also push the United States to rein in Israel, should it continue with aggressive military action in Syria.

Crucial GCC Market Analysis Insights in 2026

, with no hint of a shift in policy. Going forward, Netanyahu can be anticipated to continue along the exact same trajectory in Gaza, specifically given that a remarkable shift in U.S.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

On the contrary, as the international outcry against Israel's actions in Gaza grows and with an increasing number of U.S. allies moving to declare a State state, Israel is likely to entrench its position further, even more by the prospect of possibility U.S. ongoing.

Trump's proposition and repeated its rejection to normalize relations with Israel in the absence of substantial development towards the creation of a Palestinian state. The kingdom has likewise strongly criticized Israel for the lack of appropriate help streaming into Gaza.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Its leading role in pressing for a two-state option at the 80th UN General Assembly stands as its most popular effort in this regard. The kingdom will likely continue its behind-the-scenes lobbying of the United States to press Israel to relent on these demands, holding out on any development toward normalization with Israel in the lack of movement on these issues.

Crucial GCC Market Research Insights for 2026

Its engagement in the Middle East is shaping the shapes of the emerging regional orderwhether by default or style. Particularly, its decisions on Iran, Syria, and Gaza all discuss core difficulties in the region and hold the prospective to move each in a favorable instructions. Hazard and deepening conflict stand on the flip side of each opportunity.

As global trade patterns realign, a new investment corridor is taking shape, linking capital from the Gulf to Latin America. Sovereign wealth funds, corporations, and household offices from the Gulf Cooperation Council ("") are investing billions throughout Latin America's energy, farming, fintech, and facilities sectors. Trade between Mexico and GCC states increased more than 33% between 2021 and 2022, while non-oil trade with the UAE has actually nearly folded the previous decade.

3 Company sentiment reflects this momentum64% of Latin American executives plan to broaden engagement with the Gulf, especially in agriculture, renewable resource, and digital services. 4 Highlighting this momentum, Saudi Arabia recently opened its very first Chamber of Commerce workplace in Miami, more signaling the growing links in between Gulf capital and the Americas.