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Inform technique with proof: Usage independent information on market self-confidence, growth, and customer demand to assist your tactical instructions. Verify financial investment strategies: Ensure resource allotment and efforts are backed by reliable market insight. Accelerate confident decisions: Gear up members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement quickly and take definitive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Opportunity to Raise Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Statement on Economic Cooperation Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," Might 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Passage (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program enhances worldwide financial ties with 26 tactical agreements," 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 prepares to at least double annual United States investments over next years," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Fact Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are entering a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is greater. Danger is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will progressively determine which organisations sustain growth and which fall back. In action, Climb Club, an exposure launchpad curating gain access to and opportunities for board- and C-level ladies, in partnership with BusinessDay, is introducing a new regular monthly conference room dialogue convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate management and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session brings together board practitioners to analyze the real pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Threats and Priorities Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulative and governance expectations Innovation disturbance and cyber durability Long-lasting value creation and sustainability imperatives Leadership decisions boards must prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers include: Mediator 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, threat oversight, and tactical direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are deliberately developing a repeating online forum that surface areas board-level insight, enhances reputable female governance voices, and broadens 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 most recent insights, trends, and methods delivered directly to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to stay at the forefront of what's next.
Total possessions held broadly consistent over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful brand-new capital deployment. Global macro conditions set a tough background.
The GCC ETF universe made up 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Performance throughout the market was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs delivering favorable returns compared to 26 in decrease. Overall, the data shows a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a little subset of products.
Expanding Industrial Growth Within Dubai and the GCCPerformance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in specific nation direct exposures and commodities, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resilient during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching new highs in the middle of higher oil rates, in addition to its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
Egypt delivered strong performance in January and February. Despite a market pullback in March due to the war, both Egypt's market and its ETFs still published positive returns for the quarter. The ongoing 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 likewise faced more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more cautious policy backdrop in China and global risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy prices. Thematic ETFs also struggled for the many part, especially those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as valuation pressures and global rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, showing selective allowance rather than broad market involvement. Despite weak performance, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of products attracting brand-new capital.
Trading activity remained consistent, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have happened in the secondary market, enabling investors to change positions without substantial primary productions or redemptions. While recent geopolitical occasions have actually led to more financial pressure on GCC countries, the area remains durable and well capitalized to deal with the situation.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic direct exposure concentrated on international high-end and customer brands. Momentum continued into April with the approval of KraneShares AGIX and KWIN ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX. These funds are expected to launch in April pending a final approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has impacted belief and rates during the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in local assets.
Despite continuous geopolitical tensions and security risks across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to demonstrate strength, keeping favorable growth momentum recently. While disputes in the broader area and worldwide economic uncertainty remain a structural restriction, GCC nations have actually up until now restricted their effect on domestic economic efficiency through strong financial positions, policy connection, and continual investment.
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