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Inform strategy with proof: Use independent data on market self-confidence, development, and customer need to assist your strategic instructions. Verify investment plans: Guarantee resource allocation and efforts are backed by trustworthy market insight. Speed up positive decisions: Equip members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement quickly and take decisive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Opportunity to Elevate Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Declaration on Economic Cooperation Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," May 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Passage (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program enhances global economic ties with 26 tactical contracts," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to a minimum of double yearly United States investments over next decade," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Fact Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are getting in a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is greater. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will progressively figure out which organisations sustain development and which fall back. In response, Ascent Club, a presence launchpad curating gain access to and opportunities for board- and C-level ladies, in partnership with BusinessDay, is introducing a brand-new regular monthly conference room discussion assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate leadership and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session unites board professionals to take a look at the genuine pressures shaping board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Threats and Priorities Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Developing regulatory and governance expectations Technology interruption and cyber strength Long-term value production and sustainability imperatives Management decisions boards must prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers consist of: Mediator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Handling Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.
Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is a convening of executives contributing straight to governance, danger oversight, and tactical direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are purposefully developing a recurring online forum that surface areas board-level insight, amplifies credible female governance voices, and expands access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
4 March 2026 6:00 PM WAT Zoom Register to join the conversation. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the current insights, trends, and methods provided directly to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to stay at the forefront of what's next.
The GCC ETF market gone into Q1 2026 in a consolidation phase, with activity remaining raised but growth slowing. Total assets held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news instead of a meaningful brand-new capital release. Global macro conditions set a tough backdrop.
The outcome was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional pattern. Oil related possessions succeeded for the most part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Absolute High-end ETF released on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. In Q1, two more Kraneshares have actually been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and will be authorized by the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (ADX). The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Performance throughout the marketplace was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs delivering favorable returns compared to 26 in decrease. In general, the information reflects a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a small subset of items.
Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in specific country exposures and products, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resilient throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching new highs in the middle of higher oil prices, as well as its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays open.
Egypt provided strong efficiency in January and February. In spite of a market pullback in March due to the war, both Egypt's market and its ETFs still posted positive returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East dispute and resulting energy shock have improved the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise faced wider macro headwinds, including a more cautious policy background in China and international risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy prices. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the many part, especially those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as appraisal pressures and global rate dynamics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF substantially outshined. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely focused, reflecting selective allocation rather than broad market participation. In spite of weak performance, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of items bring in brand-new capital. This suggests that investors were targeting particular direct exposures, while reducing or rotating out of others.
Trading activity stayed constant, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have actually taken location in the secondary market, enabling financiers to change positions without considerable primary productions or redemptions. While recent geopolitical occasions have actually led to more financial pressure on GCC nations, the region remains resilient and well capitalized to handle the situation.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic direct exposure focused on worldwide high-end and consumer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some progress connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has impacted sentiment and costs during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in regional assets.
Ensuring Operational Excellence in the Middle EastIn spite of ongoing geopolitical tensions and security threats across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show resilience, keeping favorable growth momentum in current years. While conflicts in the larger region and worldwide financial unpredictability remain a structural restriction, GCC nations have so far limited their effect on domestic economic performance through strong fiscal positions, policy connection, and sustained financial investment.
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