2026 outlook: How procurement and supply chain leaders in the GCC can prepare for a new era of global influence

Spearheaded by the GCC, the Middle East is entering a new phase in its global role. As national transformation agendas across the GCC approach key milestones, what will 2026 bring for procurement and supply chain leaders – and how will they need to respond? 

A region stepping into a new global role 

National transformation efforts are advancing rapidly, with local content policies evolving in tandem. Building on the momentum of its high-profile megaprojects, there is now a strong drive to develop long-term industrial capability and diversified economic growth, underpinned by a foundation of value chain ownership, technology localisation, IP retention, and SME ecosystems that foster innovation through competition. As a part of this shift, sovereign wealth funds, particularly in Saudi Arabia, are investing heavily in developing global technology and AI infrastructure. These developments are repositioning the GCC from a historically hydrocarbons-centric region to an influential player in global value chains.  

This broader economic shift is reshaping expectations of procurement, with many organizations recognizing its potential to create long-term value. We are seeing leading organizations transforming their procurement from a compliance- and transaction-focused function into a strategic driver of value, resilience, and innovation. The strong appetite for digitalization and AI is giving organizations earlier visibility into cost, risk, and supplier dynamics, prompting them to embed procurement earlier in business planning, investment decisions, and supplier performance management.  

Together, these forces create a unique environment in which procurement and supply chain leaders can and must prepare their organizations to participate in increasingly complex, interconnected value chains. This backdrop sets the stage for the four major trends that will define 2026.