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Inform strategy with evidence: Usage independent information on market confidence, growth, and client demand to assist your tactical direction. Confirm financial investment strategies: Guarantee resource allotment and initiatives are backed by credible market insight. Accelerate confident decisions: Gear up members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach contract quickly and take definitive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Chance to Raise 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 Corridor (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program strengthens international financial ties with 26 strategic agreements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign complimentary trade pact 'really soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to at least double annual United States investments over next decade," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Reality Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are going into a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is greater. Risk is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will significantly identify which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In response, Climb Club, an exposure launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level females, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is launching a brand-new regular monthly boardroom discussion convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and business leadership and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session unites board professionals to examine the genuine pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Risks and Priorities Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Developing regulatory and governance expectations Technology disruption and cyber strength Long-lasting worth development and sustainability imperatives Leadership decisions boards must prioritise heading into 2026 Climb 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 an assembling 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 repeating forum that surface areas board-level insight, enhances reputable female governance voices, and broadens access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
4 March 2026 6:00 PM WAT Zoom Register to sign up with the discussion. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the most recent insights, trends, and methods provided directly to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to stay at the leading edge of what's next.
The GCC ETF market gotten in Q1 2026 in a debt consolidation phase, with activity staying elevated but growth slowing. Overall possessions held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news instead of a meaningful new capital release. Worldwide macro conditions set a challenging background.
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 positive side, in January, the Boreas Absolute Luxury ETF released on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. Also in Q1, two more Kraneshares have been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and are about to be authorized by the Abu Dhabi Stock Market (ADX). The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Efficiency across the market was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs delivering positive returns compared to 26 in decline. In general, the data shows a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a little subset of products.
A Tactical Approach to Regulatory Compliance in OmanEfficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in particular country direct exposures and products, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations 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, along with its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
Egypt delivered strong performance in January and February. Regardless of a market pullback in March due to the war, both Egypt's market and its ETFs still posted favorable returns for the quarter. The continuous Middle East dispute and resulting energy shock have actually reshaped 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 cautious policy backdrop in China and worldwide risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy costs. Thematic ETFs likewise struggled for the many part, especially those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as assessment pressures and global rate characteristics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF considerably outperformed. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and highly concentrated, reflecting selective allocation instead of broad market participation. Despite weak efficiency, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of items bring in brand-new capital. This indicates that investors were targeting specific exposures, while decreasing or rotating out of others.
Trading activity stayed steady, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. A lot of activity appears to have occurred in the secondary market, enabling financiers to change positions without considerable main creations or redemptions. While recent geopolitical occasions have actually resulted in more monetary pressure on GCC nations, the area remains resilient and well capitalized to handle the scenario.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic direct exposure focused on international luxury and consumer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some progress relating to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has impacted sentiment and rates throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional properties.
Is Your Organization Model Flexible Enough for Saudi Growth?Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and security risks across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show durability, maintaining favorable growth momentum over the last few years. While conflicts in the wider area and worldwide financial uncertainty stay a structural constraint, GCC countries have so far restricted their impact on domestic economic performance through strong financial positions, policy connection, and continual investment.
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