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The poll gathered responses from 3,000 international businesses and institutional investors spanning 10 markets with 600 participants based in Saudi Arabia and the UAE according to HSBC. Senior leaders in the kingdom expressed strong belief in their ability to reposition organisations for the longer term at a rate of 57 percent while the UAE figure stood at 50 percent both well above the 36 percent average recorded in Europe and Asia the bank said. This confidence persists even as companies navigate a series of cumulative global shocks over the past decade with many continuing to invest in future capabilities.
Companies and investors in both countries view supply chain reconfiguration as a significant growth driver with 98 percent of Saudi respondents and 95 percent of those in the UAE agreeing that international opportunities would arise from such changes HSBC reported. The survey further indicated that 94 percent in each market expect cross-border trade and investment patterns to shift toward greater regional focus over the next five years. A March 2026 World Trade Organization forecast projected Middle East economic growth of 3.3 percent for the year which could facilitate strengthened intraregional supply networks while preserving global connections.
Access to critical technologies and infrastructure emerged as a dominant strategic factor with 60 percent of participants identifying it as a major influence on their organisations over the next three years the HSBC assessment found. This focus aligns with broader regional momentum where a PwC analysis projected artificial intelligence to contribute 135.2 billion dollars to the Saudi economy by 2030 equivalent to 12.4 percent of gross domestic product. The UAE could see an even larger relative impact at close to 14 percent of its 2030 GDP from the technology according to the same consultancy report.
Increasing portfolio exposure to artificial intelligence and technology themes ranked among the top three repositioning drivers for 52 percent of UAE respondents and 46 percent of those in Saudi Arabia HSBC figures show. More than two-thirds of businesses in the UAE at 67 percent and 73 percent in Saudi Arabia reported lengthened investment time horizons compared with three years earlier surpassing the global average of 53 percent. The AI Economy Institute placed the UAE at the forefront of global adoption with 64 percent of its working-age population using artificial intelligence by the end of 2025.
HSBC Bank Middle East chief executive officer for the Middle East North Africa and Türkiye region Selim Kervanci said “As a lynchpin of global trade this survey gives a glimpse of the immediate response measures undertaken by firms in Saudi Arabia and the UAE to secure the flow of goods and trade amid disruption in the region.” Kervanci added that businesses remain committed to their medium-term strategies anchored by confidence in the GCC’s economic fundamentals and long-term diversification plans. The bank stated it continues to support clients in maintaining trade capital and investment flows to advance growth objectives.
Regional governments have backed these priorities with substantial commitments a Microsoft report noted that Saudi Arabia earmarked 40 billion dollars for AI investments in 2024 followed by a 100 billion dollar Project Transcendence initiative announced later that year. Gartner projections indicated technology spending across the Middle East and North Africa would reach 169 billion dollars in 2026 driven largely by Gulf AI and data centre developments. Such investments underscore the strategic emphasis on digital capabilities to enhance productivity and competitiveness across key sectors.
