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Notify technique with proof: Usage independent data on market confidence, growth, and customer need to guide your tactical instructions. Validate financial investment strategies: Make sure resource allowance and initiatives are backed by credible market insight. Accelerate confident decisions: Equip members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement rapidly and take definitive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Major Strategic Chance 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 Corridor (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme reinforces international economic ties with 26 strategic contracts," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign totally free trade pact 'very soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to at least double annual US investments over next decade," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Reality Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are getting in a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is higher. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will significantly determine which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In response, Climb Club, a visibility launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level women, in cooperation with BusinessDay, is introducing a new month-to-month boardroom dialogue assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and business leadership and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session combines board specialists to analyze the genuine pressures shaping board programs today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Threats and Priorities Forming 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulatory and governance expectations Innovation disturbance and cyber strength Long-term worth production and sustainability imperatives Management 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 Managing Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.
Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is an assembling of executives contributing directly to governance, risk oversight, and tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are deliberately creating a repeating forum that surface areas board-level insight, enhances credible 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 sign up with the conversation. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the latest insights, trends, and techniques delivered straight to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the forefront of what's next.
Total properties held broadly consistent over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful new capital implementation. Worldwide macro conditions set a challenging backdrop.
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 negative, with just 13 ETFs delivering positive returns compared to 26 in decline. Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength.
Egypt provided 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 favorable returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also dealt with broader macro headwinds, including a more careful policy background in China and worldwide risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy costs. Thematic ETFs also 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.
The petrochemical ETF considerably surpassed. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely focused, showing selective allocation rather than broad market participation. In spite of weak performance, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of products attracting brand-new capital. This indicates that financiers were targeting particular exposures, while minimizing or rotating out of others.
Trading activity remained consistent, with average 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 change positions without considerable primary creations or redemptions. While current geopolitical events have actually led to more financial pressure on GCC countries, the area remains resilient and well capitalized to deal with the scenario.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic exposure focused on global high-end and consumer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some progress connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has affected belief and rates during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local properties.
Is Your Shared Service Center Truly Including Value?Despite continuous geopolitical tensions and security risks across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to demonstrate resilience, preserving positive development momentum in recent years. While disputes in the larger area and global financial uncertainty remain a structural restraint, GCC countries have up until now limited their impact on domestic financial performance through strong fiscal positions, policy connection, and continual financial investment.
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