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Notify method with proof: Usage independent information on market confidence, development, and customer need to guide your strategic instructions. Confirm financial investment strategies: Make sure resource allowance and efforts are backed by trustworthy market insight. Accelerate positive choices: Gear up members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement rapidly and take definitive action.
Capital is tighter. And the quality of conference room judgment will significantly identify which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In action, Ascent Club, a presence launchpad curating gain access to and opportunities for board- and C-level women, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is introducing a new month-to-month conference room discussion convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and business management and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session unites board specialists to analyze the genuine pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Risks and Top Priorities Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulative and governance expectations Technology disruption and cyber strength Long-lasting worth production and sustainability imperatives Leadership decisions boards must prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers consist of: 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 straight to governance, danger oversight, and tactical direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are intentionally producing a repeating online forum that surface areas board-level insight, amplifies credible female governance voices, and broadens access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
4 March 2026 6:00 PM WAT Zoom Register to sign up with the conversation. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the most recent insights, patterns, and techniques provided straight to your inbox. Sign up with Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the leading edge of what's next.
Total possessions held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful brand-new capital implementation. Worldwide macro conditions set a challenging background.
The outcome was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional pattern. Oil associated properties did well for the many part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Outright High-end ETF launched on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. Also in Q1, two more Kraneshares have been authorized for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and are about to be authorized by the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (ADX). The GCC ETF universe made up 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Performance across the market was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs delivering favorable returns compared to 26 in decrease. Overall, the information reflects a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a small subset of products.
The Strategic Guide to Regional Market Success in 2026Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in specific nation exposures and commodities, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resilient throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching new highs in the middle of greater oil costs, as well as its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
Egypt provided strong performance in January and February. In spite 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 actually reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise faced wider macro headwinds, consisting of a more careful policy background in China and worldwide risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and higher energy costs. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the most part, especially those connected to carbon and high-growth innovation, as assessment pressures and international rate dynamics weighed on performance.
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 performance, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of items drawing in brand-new capital. This indicates that financiers were targeting specific direct exposures, while decreasing or rotating out of others.
Trading activity remained steady, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have actually happened in the secondary market, making it possible for investors to adjust positions without substantial main creations or redemptions. While current geopolitical occasions have led to more monetary pressure on GCC countries, the area stays durable and well capitalized to handle the situation.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic exposure focused on global high-end and customer brands. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the conflict has affected sentiment and rates during the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in local properties.
Analysing 2026 Market Data for Strategic InsightsDespite continuous geopolitical tensions and security risks across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to demonstrate resilience, keeping favorable growth momentum in current years. While disputes in the broader area and international financial unpredictability stay a structural restriction, GCC countries have up until now restricted their influence on domestic financial efficiency through strong fiscal positions, policy connection, and sustained financial investment.
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