Essential GCC Market Research Insights for 2026

Israel responded with alarm to both the U.S. choice to lift sanctions on Syria and President Trump's meeting 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. Since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, Israel has been careful of the former jihadist now in control in Damascus.

It has also released soldiers in southern Syria, inhabiting an increasing area beyond the demilitarized zone separating the 2 nations. Moving forward, Israel will stay cautious of the Sharaa government and will likely continue to use military pressure on Syria, consisting of a broadened profession of southern Syria and periodic air campaign.

Israel's openness to the Trump administration's efforts to broker a nonaggression pact in between Israel and Syria remains an open concern. Because the fall of Assad in December 2024, Saudi Arabia has actually lobbied hard for the United States to lift Syria sanctions, citing them as a key barrier to the country's restoration.

For MBS, the U.S. decision stood as an essential triumph emerging from Trump's trip. Going forward, Saudi Arabia will likely motivate the United States to continue along its path towards normalization with Syria.

Local Versus Global Strategy in the MENA Region

In spite of expanding domestic and worldwide criticism of Israel's method, the prime minister has actually not wavered in his expanding occupation of Gaza in the absence of any U.S. pressure. Undoubtedly, the prime minister appears to indulge in U.S. support, with no tip of a shift in policy. Moving forward, Netanyahu can be expected to continue along the same trajectory in Gaza, specifically considering that a dramatic shift in U.S.

On the contrary, as the global protest versus Israel's actions in Gaza grows and with an increasing number of U.S. allies moving to state a Palestinian state, Israel is most likely to entrench its position further, bolstered by the possibility of continued U.S. assistance. The Trump administration announced its decision to reject visas to the Palestinian Authority management ahead of the UN General Assembly, seemingly in action to mounting calls for declaring a Palestinian state.

Riyadh instantly rejected Trump's proposition and reiterated its rejection to normalize relations with Israel in the absence of significant development toward the production of a Palestinian state. The kingdom has likewise strongly slammed Israel for the absence of appropriate aid streaming into Gaza. Following the August 22 scarcity statement, Saudi Arabia, while not calling out the United States, faulted the Israeli profession as the cause of the "humanitarian disaster" in Gaza.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Its leading function in promoting a two-state service at the 80th UN General Assembly stands as its most prominent 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 needs, holding out on any progress toward normalization with Israel in the lack of movement on these issues.

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Its engagement in the Middle East is forming the contours of the emerging regional orderwhether by default or style. Particularly, its choices on Iran, Syria, and Gaza all discuss core obstacles in the region and hold the possible to move each in a favorable instructions. Yet, danger and deepening conflict base on the other hand of each opportunity.

As worldwide trade patterns realign, a brand-new financial investment passage is taking shape, connecting capital from the Gulf to Latin America. Sovereign wealth funds, corporations, and family offices from the Gulf Cooperation Council ("") are investing billions across Latin America's energy, agriculture, fintech, and infrastructure sectors. Trade between Mexico and GCC states increased more than 33% between 2021 and 2022, while non-oil trade with the UAE has actually almost doubled over the past years.

3 Company belief reflects this momentum64% of Latin American executives plan to broaden engagement with the Gulf, especially in agriculture, renewable energy, and digital services. 4 Underscoring this momentum, Saudi Arabia just recently opened its very first Chamber of Commerce office in Miami, additional indicating the growing links in between Gulf capital and the Americas.