All Categories
Featured
Table of Contents
Inform method with proof: Use independent data on market confidence, development, and client demand to direct your strategic direction. Validate financial investment plans: Ensure resource allocation and efforts are backed by credible market insight. Accelerate positive choices: Gear up members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach contract rapidly and take decisive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Major Strategic Opportunity to Raise Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Declaration on Economic Cooperation Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," May 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Passage (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme enhances global financial ties with 26 tactical agreements," 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 plans to a minimum of double annual US investments over next years," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Fact Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are going into a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Scrutiny is higher. Risk is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will progressively figure out which organisations sustain development and which fall back. In reaction, Ascent Club, a visibility launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level women, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is launching a brand-new regular monthly conference room discussion convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and corporate leadership and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session brings together board professionals to examine the genuine pressures forming board programs today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Risks and Top Priorities Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulatory and governance expectations Innovation interruption and cyber resilience Long-term worth development and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards should 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 directly to governance, risk oversight, and strategic direction within their organisations. Through this partnership, Climb Club and BusinessDay are purposefully developing a repeating online forum that surface areas board-level insight, enhances reputable female governance voices, and expands access to the tactical 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 current insights, trends, and methods provided straight to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the leading edge of what's next.
Total properties held broadly steady 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 result was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional trend. Oil associated possessions did well for the a lot of part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Outright Luxury ETF launched on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. Likewise in Q1, 2 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 comprised 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency throughout the market was broadly negative, with only 13 ETFs providing favorable 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 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 published positive returns for the quarter. The continuous Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have actually improved the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also dealt with wider macro headwinds, consisting of a more cautious policy background in China and international risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and higher energy prices. Thematic ETFs likewise had a hard time for the a lot of part, especially those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as valuation pressures and global rate characteristics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF considerably surpassed. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, reflecting selective allocation rather than broad market involvement. Despite weak efficiency, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of items drawing in new capital. This indicates that investors were targeting specific direct exposures, while reducing or rotating out of others.
Trading activity stayed constant, 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 taken location in the secondary market, making it possible for financiers to adjust positions without substantial main creations or redemptions. While current geopolitical occasions have actually led to more monetary pressure on GCC countries, the area remains durable 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 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 last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some progress associating with ETFs in the GCC. We expect more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has actually affected belief and prices throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local assets.
In spite of continuous geopolitical stress and security risks throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate durability, maintaining favorable development momentum over the last few years. While disputes in the larger area and worldwide economic uncertainty stay a structural restraint, GCC nations have up until now restricted their impact on domestic financial performance through strong financial positions, policy connection, and sustained investment.
Latest Posts
Scaling Corporate Efficiency Through Operational Excellence
How to Leverage Market Intelligence for 2026 Success
Maximizing Corporate Efficiency Through Strategic Excellence
%20Market.webp)

