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Notify strategy with evidence: Usage independent information on market self-confidence, growth, and customer demand to guide your tactical direction. Verify investment strategies: Guarantee resource allocation and initiatives are backed by credible market insight. Speed up confident choices: Gear up members of your executive group 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 Major Strategic Chance to Elevate Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Statement on Economic Cooperation Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," Might 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Passage (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program reinforces international economic ties with 26 tactical contracts," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign complimentary trade pact 'soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to a minimum of double annual US investments over next years," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Fact Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are going into a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Scrutiny is greater. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will significantly identify which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In action, Ascent Club, an exposure launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level females, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is releasing a brand-new month-to-month boardroom discussion assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and business management and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session brings together board specialists to analyze the real pressures forming board programs today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Priorities Forming 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulative and governance expectations Innovation disturbance and cyber strength Long-term worth creation and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards need to prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers include: Moderator 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 directly to governance, threat oversight, and tactical direction within their organisations. Through this partnership, Climb Club and BusinessDay are purposefully creating a recurring online forum that surface areas board-level insight, amplifies trustworthy female governance voices, and expands access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
4 March 2026 6:00 PM WAT Zoom Register to join the conversation. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the latest insights, patterns, and methods delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up with Everest Group's newsletter to stay at the forefront of what's next.
The GCC ETF market gotten in Q1 2026 in a debt consolidation stage, with activity remaining elevated however growth slowing. Overall assets held broadly consistent over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a significant new capital deployment. International macro conditions set a challenging backdrop.
The GCC ETF universe made up 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency throughout the market was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. Overall, the data shows a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a small subset of items.
Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in particular nation exposures and commodities, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resistant throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs amidst greater oil rates, in addition to its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays 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 dispute and resulting energy shock have improved the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise faced broader macro headwinds, including a more careful policy background in China and international risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy rates. Thematic ETFs likewise had a hard time for the a lot of part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth innovation, as assessment pressures and international rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, reflecting selective allotment rather than broad market participation. In spite of weak efficiency, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of products bring in brand-new capital.
Trading activity remained stable, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. Many activity appears to have actually happened in the secondary market, making it possible for investors to adjust positions without considerable main creations or redemptions. While current geopolitical events have led to more financial pressure on GCC nations, the region remains resilient and well capitalized to deal with the circumstance.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a specific niche thematic direct exposure concentrated on international high-end and consumer brand names. Momentum continued into April with the approval of KraneShares AGIX and KWIN ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX. These funds are anticipated to release in April pending a final approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress associating with ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has impacted sentiment and rates throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional possessions.
Regardless of ongoing geopolitical stress and security dangers across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show strength, keeping positive development momentum recently. While disputes in the larger region and worldwide economic unpredictability remain a structural restriction, GCC nations have so far limited their influence on domestic economic efficiency through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and sustained investment.
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