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PwC’s 29th Global CEO Survey gathered responses from more than 300 CEOs across the Middle East and highlighted exceptional optimism in the Gulf Cooperation Council, where 93 percent foresee strong growth this year compared with 88 percent of broader regional leaders and just 55 percent globally. The findings, released in January, position the GCC as a consolidating global investment hub with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates ranking among the top 10 destinations worldwide. This sentiment persists despite trade tensions and uncertainties that have tempered expectations elsewhere.
The PwC report showed that 88 percent of Middle East CEOs plan to invest outside their home markets, with almost three-quarters of those commitments remaining inside the region and thereby deepening intra-Gulf integration. According to the survey, this outward orientation reflects growing confidence in local value creation and long-term national transformation programs that continue to draw international capital. Hani Ashkar, territory senior partner at PwC Middle East, stated, “These findings reflect the strong underlying confidence we are seeing across the Middle East. CEOs in the region are resilient and are ready to deploy capital for long-term growth. It is particularly encouraging to see the region rank highly in CEOs’ global investment plans. Supported by national transformation agendas and sustained investment in artificial intelligence, the Middle East is well positioned to compete, adapt and grow.”
PwC figures place AI adoption in the GCC well above global benchmarks, with more than one-third of regional leaders integrating the technology directly into their offerings against fewer than one in five worldwide. Adoption proves strongest in demand-generation areas such as sales, marketing and customer service, where 43 percent of GCC CEOs report extensive use, while nearly 40 percent deploy it across support functions. The survey found that 80 percent of Middle East business leaders say their organisational culture enables AI uptake and 70 percent maintain a clearly defined roadmap, both metrics ahead of international averages.
According to the report, 72 percent of Middle East CEOs intend to pursue a major acquisition in the next three years, shifting deal activity toward capability building in talent, skills and data. The PwC assessment noted that 60 percent of regional leaders already compete in new sectors, with nearly half targeting technology-led industries, almost 40 percent entering consumer markets and about one-third moving into industrials and services. This selective expansion aligns with broader efforts to diversify economies beyond traditional hydrocarbons.
Geopolitical conflict remains the top concern shaping boardroom decisions across the Middle East, the survey indicated, prompting nearly 30 percent of regional CEOs and 32 percent of their GCC peers to reconfigure supply chains as a risk-mitigation step. Companies in the region nevertheless posted 12 percent average revenue growth in the current fiscal year against a global average of 8 percent, accompanied by stronger profit margins. Mona Abou Hana, chief corporate and network officer at PwC Middle East, said, “Middle East CEOs are not deterred by global risk, they are planning through it. What stands out is the discipline behind their confidence. Leaders across the region are investing with intention in AI, cybersecurity and new capabilities because they understand that resilience today is built through action. In a more uncertain global environment, the Middle East is emerging as a magnet for capital and long-term growth.”
World Bank data projects economic growth across GCC countries to reach 4.5 percent in 2026, supported by the rollback of OPEC+ oil production cuts and continued non-oil sector expansion. The multilateral institution’s forecast complements the CEO-level confidence captured earlier this year in the PwC survey. Such projections underscore the role of sustained investment momentum in sectors ranging from technology to logistics as the region pursues its diversification objectives.
