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Tuesday, February 10, 2026
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates —
On Tuesday, February 10, 2026, Dubai-based digital studio Vista by Lara announced an operational expansion focused on artificial intelligence (AI) integration for e-commerce businesses. The expansion aims to provide Shopify development and digital growth services to brands across the GCC region.
The GCC, or Gulf Cooperation Council, is a regional union comprising six Middle Eastern nations: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Founded by Lara Eros Farbactian, the studio specializes in bilingual (English and Arabic) storefronts and proprietary AI utilities for locally dominant sectors such as fashion, B2B, and real estate. “Our job is to give UAE brands a modern storefront and use AI to accelerate the work that normally takes months,” Farbactian stated during the announcement.
The move aligns with Dubai’s “D33” Economic Agenda, which seeks to double the city’s economy by 2033 through digital transformation. According to the PwC “Five GCC economic themes to watch in 2026” report, AI adoption in the region is currently shifting from “ambition into action,” as infrastructure constraints ease and businesses seek higher productivity.
However, industry experts note that the market is becoming highly competitive. A 2026 analysis by SAP UAE highlighted that while AI is now a “decisive lever of competitiveness” in the Gulf, firms face significant challenges in securing specialized talent, with nearly 90% of regional employers reporting a shortage of AI-literate professionals.
