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Inform strategy with evidence: Use independent information on market self-confidence, growth, and customer need to direct your tactical direction. Validate financial investment plans: Ensure resource allotment and efforts are backed by reputable market insight. Speed up confident choices: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach contract quickly and take decisive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Chance to Elevate Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Declaration on Economic Cooperation Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," May 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program strengthens global financial ties with 26 strategic arrangements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign totally free trade pact 'soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to a minimum of double yearly US 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 getting in a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is greater. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will significantly figure out which organisations sustain growth and which fall back. In action, Climb Club, a visibility launchpad curating access and opportunities for board- and C-level women, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is launching a brand-new regular monthly conference room dialogue convening 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 real pressures shaping board programs today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Concerns Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Developing regulatory and governance expectations Technology interruption and cyber resilience Long-lasting worth development and sustainability imperatives Leadership 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, Climb Club and BusinessDay are deliberately creating a recurring online forum that surface areas board-level insight, magnifies reputable female governance voices, and broadens access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
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Overall assets 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 release. International macro conditions set a challenging 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 many part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Outright Luxury ETF introduced on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. Also in Q1, 2 more Kraneshares have been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and will be approved by the Abu Dhabi Stock Market (ADX). The GCC ETF universe consisted of 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency across the market was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decline. Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength.
Egypt provided strong performance in January and February. Despite 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 actually reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise dealt with wider macro headwinds, including a more cautious policy backdrop in China and international risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy costs. Thematic ETFs also had a hard time for the a lot of part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as appraisal pressures and worldwide rate dynamics weighed on performance.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely focused, showing selective allocation rather than broad market participation. Despite weak efficiency, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of products bring in brand-new capital.
Trading activity remained consistent, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. Most activity appears to have actually occurred in the secondary market, making it possible for investors to adjust positions without substantial primary creations or redemptions. While current geopolitical occasions have resulted in more financial pressure on GCC nations, the area stays resistant and well capitalized to handle the circumstance.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a specific niche thematic direct exposure focused on international high-end and consumer brands. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has impacted belief and costs throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional properties.
Strategic Strategy for Regional LeadershipRegardless of continuous geopolitical stress and security dangers throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to demonstrate durability, preserving favorable development momentum in recent years. While conflicts in the wider region and international economic uncertainty stay a structural restraint, GCC countries have up until now limited their influence on domestic financial efficiency through strong financial positions, policy connection, and continual financial investment.
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