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Interpreneur Report 2026 | Market insights: The view from United Arab Emirates
Kreston Global
Nine in 10 interpreneurs in the UAE (90%) expect the environment for international expansion will become more favourable in the next two to three years, while just 5% expect it to worsen.
Like their global peers, accessing market growth opportunities was the primary motivator for international expansion — cited by 55% of interpreneurs in the UAE. However, pursuing diversification to reduce dependence on any single market was the next most important priority (cited by 43% — much higher than the global average of 35%). It’s notable that this is an increase from just 29% who said so in 2024.
When it comes to what makes a target destination attractive, locations which offer favourable trade agreements were in higher demand than the global average (55% compared to 48%), as were those with suitable tech infrastructure and digitalisation opportunities (47% compared to 40%).
Tariffs have had less of an impact on organisations’ global strategy than in other countries surveyed: a third (35%) said tariffs or trade disputes have had a significant impact, while 63% categorised their impact as moderate or minor.
AI is also having less of an impact on international expansion than the global average, with 66% saying its effect has been significant, compared to 74% globally.
As organisations strive to maintain organisational culture as they integrate new operations abroad, more than half of interpreneurs from the UAE (52%) reported that the biggest challenge was balancing global standards with local flexibility — a full ten percentage points higher than the global average. Hiring and retaining employees who fit the company culture was also particularly difficult (36% said so compared to 30% globally).
"The Report gives the current reality of the UAE market. The UAE government has approved initiatives which will reinforce a more resilient and sustainable national industrial model to overcome the global issues and mitigate risks facing global supply chains, guaranteeing sustainable access to vital commodities. Industry is placed among the most important drivers of the UAE’s next phase of growth. International businesses must look at the quick plans and measures taken by the UAE and must get updated on the changes and the amendments/updates in legal, regulatory and compliance requirements happening across markets. Geopolitical instability remains a key threat for international expansion, but entrepreneurs are learning ways to navigate this by starting expansion and do business with minimum impact to them. This will take them to the emerging opportunities of the future."
Sudhir Kumar
Senior Partner & Head – Corporate Communications,
Kreston Menon
Q1: What were the primary motivators for your business expanding internationally?
Q2: What were the biggest challenges you faced during your international expansion process?
Q3: Which of the following would make a country most attractive for international expansion?
Q4: On a scale of 0-10, how positive do you feel about the current climate for international business expansion?
Q5: Do you expect the overall environment for international business expansion to become more or less favourable over the next 2-3 years?
Q6: How easy or difficult do you think it is for businesses to expand overseas given the current geopolitical and economic climate?
Q7: To what extent have tariffs or trade disputes impacted your organisation's global strategy over the past 1-2 years?
Q8: What have been the biggest challenges in maintaining your organisation's culture as you expanded overseas?
Q9: To what extent has Al impacted your organisation's international expansion strategy?
Q10: Looking ahead, which of the following, if any, do you see as the most significant potential threats to your overseas enterprise?
Q11: Looking ahead, which of the following, if any, do you see as the most significant opportunity for your overseas operations?
To view the full report, visit the Kreston Global Interpreneur Report 2026 – Mapping the Route to Interpreneurial Success
📍UAE | Australia | Brazil | India | Mexico | Nigeria Singapore | South Africa | Spain | UK | USA
