Essential Middle East Market Research Trends for 2026

Israel reacted with alarm to both the U.S. decision to lift sanctions on Syria and President Trump's meeting with Ahmed al-Sharaa. Prime Minister Netanyahu supposedly asked President Trump not to lift Syria sanctions in advance of Trump's trip to the area. Furthermore, considering that the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, Israel has watched out for the former jihadist now in control in Damascus.

It has also released soldiers in southern Syria, inhabiting an increasing location beyond the demilitarized zone separating the 2 countries. Going forward, Israel will stay cautious of the Sharaa federal government and will likely continue to use military pressure on Syria, including an expanded profession of southern Syria and occasional air campaign.

Israel's openness to the Trump administration's efforts to broker a nonaggression pact in between Israel and Syria stays an open concern. Considering that 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 obstacle to the country's restoration.

For MBS, the U.S. decision stood as an important success emerging from Trump's trip. Going forward, Saudi Arabia will likely motivate the United States to continue along its course towards normalization with Syria. It might promote the repeal of the Caesar sanctions, which need to be carried out by Congress. Riyadh might likewise press the United States to check Israel, ought to it continue with aggressive military action in Syria.

Driving Organizational Change for the 2026 Economy

, with no tip of a shift in policy. Going forward, Netanyahu can be expected to continue along the same trajectory in Gaza, especially because a remarkable shift in U.S.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

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

Trump's proposition and restated its refusal to stabilize relations with Israel in the lack of considerable development towards the development of a Palestinian state. The kingdom has likewise highly criticized Israel for the lack of appropriate aid streaming into Gaza.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Its leading function in pressing for a two-state option 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 demands, holding out on any development towards normalization with Israel in the lack of movement on these problems.

Connecting Policy With Business Excellence Across the Middle East

Its engagement in the Middle East is shaping the shapes of the emerging local orderwhether by default or style. Particularly, its decisions on Iran, Syria, and Gaza all touch on core difficulties in the area and hold the possible to move each in a positive instructions. Yet, peril and deepening conflict stand on the other side of each chance.

As global 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 throughout Latin America's energy, farming, fintech, and facilities sectors. Trade in between Mexico and GCC states increased more than 33% in between 2021 and 2022, while non-oil trade with the UAE has almost folded the previous years.

3 Business sentiment shows this momentum64% of Latin American executives prepare to expand engagement with the Gulf, especially in farming, renewable resource, and digital services. 4 Highlighting this momentum, Saudi Arabia recently opened its very first Chamber of Commerce office in Miami, additional signifying the growing links between Gulf capital and the Americas.