PERSISTENCE WITH PURPOSE: BUILT TO ENDURE

2026 marks a defining moment not only for the chemical industry, but for the broader global energy, trade, and industrial landscape. Since the start of the year, geopolitical tensions and market disruptions have accelerated structural shifts across global value chains, fundamentally reshaping how the industry operates and competes.

From trade realignments and supply chain disruptions to capital constraints and policy shifts, the global environment is placing new demands on the chemical sector. Even short-term shocks now have the potential to trigger significant market volatility. In this context, resilience and business continuity are no longer operational considerations — they are strategic imperatives. Success is no longer defined solely by growth, but by the ability to safeguard critical value chains, maintain performance under pressure, and ensure stability in an increasingly fragmented world.

For decades, the chemical industry has been a key enabler of industrial development and economic diversification in the GCC. Today, its role has expanded further — not only supporting regional growth but contributing to the stability and continuity of global systems. Delivering on this responsibility will require more than adaptation; it will demand persistence with a clear sense of purpose, strengthening the industry’s ability to operate, compete, and lead amid uncertainty.

Marking its 20th anniversary, the Annual GPCA Forum returns to Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, from 22–24 November 2026 as the region’s flagship gathering for the global chemical industry. Held under the theme “Persistence with Purpose: Built to Endure,” the forum will convene global CEOs, policymakers, industry leaders, and experts to address how the industry can strengthen resilience, enhance competitiveness, and sustain long-term impact in a rapidly evolving environment.

A high-level program of plenary sessions and leadership dialogues will bring together global decision-makers to focus on the critical priorities shaping the industry’s ability to endure and perform, including:

Competing in a fragmented global economy: navigating trade shifts, localization, and market access
Strengthening supply chain resilience: ensuring feedstock security, managing disruption, and enhancing regional integration
Business continuity under pressure: building preparedness, operational agility, and system reliability
Operational excellence in volatile markets: driving efficiency, performance, and asset optimization
Advancing circularity with pragmatism: scaling solutions while navigating policy complexity
Future-proofing talent and leadership: building capabilities for a more complex and uncertain world

The forum is further strengthened by a suite of integrated platforms designed to translate strategy into action across the value chain. The GPCA StartUp Nexus connects industry with deployment-ready innovations, the GPCA Solutions Xchange enables peer-to-peer exchange on scalable solutions, and the GPCA Sustainability Pavilion showcases how resilience is being built in practice through technology, systems, and innovation. In parallel, the GPCA Youth Forum focuses on developing the next generation of industry talent, while the Women in Chemicals Symposium advances leadership capability, diversity, and the progression of women into senior decision-making roles across the sector.

Returning to Dubai — a global hub for trade, innovation, and connectivity — the 20th edition represents a milestone moment for the industry. As GPCA marks two decades of impact, the forum will not only reflect on the journey so far but define the next phase of industry leadership — reinforcing its role as a critical enabler of global stability, industrial progress, and long-term resilience.