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Notify technique with evidence: Usage independent data on market confidence, development, and client demand to guide your strategic instructions. Validate financial investment strategies: Make sure resource allocation and efforts are backed by reliable market insight. Speed up positive decisions: Equip members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach contract rapidly and take decisive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA in between the GCC and the UK is a Major Strategic Chance to Raise Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Declaration on Economic Cooperation In Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," Might 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program reinforces worldwide economic ties with 26 strategic arrangements," 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 annual United States investments over next years," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Truth Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are going into a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is higher. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will increasingly identify which organisations sustain development and which fall behind. In action, Climb Club, a presence launchpad curating gain access to and opportunities for board- and C-level ladies, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is launching a new month-to-month conference room discussion assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and business management and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session unites board specialists to examine the real pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Priorities Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulatory and governance expectations Technology disruption and cyber resilience Long-lasting worth production and sustainability imperatives Management decisions boards need to prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers include: Moderator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Managing Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.
Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is an assembling of executives contributing directly to governance, risk oversight, and strategic instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are purposefully developing a recurring online forum that surface areas board-level insight, magnifies reliable female governance voices, and expands access to the tactical 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, patterns, and methods delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up with Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the leading edge of what's next.
The GCC ETF market gone into Q1 2026 in a combination stage, with activity staying elevated but growth slowing. Total assets held broadly consistent over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued rearranging and as a response to geopolitical news instead of a significant new capital release. Worldwide macro conditions set a tough background.
The result was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional trend. Oil related possessions succeeded for the most part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Absolute Luxury ETF introduced on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. In Q1, 2 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 (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency across the market was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. In general, the data reflects a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a little subset of items.
Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in particular country direct exposures and products, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were durable during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs in the middle of higher oil costs, as well as its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
Egypt delivered strong efficiency in January and February. Regardless 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 continuous Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have actually improved the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also dealt with broader macro headwinds, consisting of a more careful policy background in China and international risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy rates. Thematic ETFs likewise struggled for the many part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as valuation pressures and international rate characteristics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF considerably outperformed. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, showing selective allocation instead of broad market participation. In spite of weak efficiency, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of products drawing in brand-new capital. This shows that investors were targeting specific 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 larger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have taken location in the secondary market, allowing financiers to change positions without significant main creations or redemptions.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic direct exposure focused on global high-end and customer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some development connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has actually affected belief and costs during the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional possessions.
Why Timing Is Everything for Your Saudi Market EntryDespite continuous geopolitical tensions and security dangers throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show resilience, maintaining positive development momentum recently. While conflicts in the larger area and international economic unpredictability remain a structural restriction, GCC nations have actually so far restricted their effect on domestic financial efficiency through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and sustained investment.
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