All Categories
Featured
Table of Contents
Notify strategy with proof: Usage independent data on market confidence, growth, and customer need to guide your strategic instructions. Validate financial investment strategies: Make sure resource allowance and initiatives are backed by trustworthy market insight. Accelerate confident choices: Equip members of your executive team 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 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)," May 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Passage (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme reinforces international financial ties with 26 tactical agreements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to a minimum of double annual United States financial 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 throughout Africa are getting in a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is higher. Risk is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will progressively figure out which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In response, Ascent Club, a visibility launchpad curating gain access to and opportunities for board- and C-level ladies, in partnership with BusinessDay, is launching a new month-to-month boardroom dialogue assembling 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 combines board practitioners to take a look at the genuine pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Risks and Concerns Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulatory and governance expectations Innovation disruption and cyber durability Long-term worth development and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers include: Mediator 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 straight to governance, risk oversight, and tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this partnership, Climb Club and BusinessDay are purposefully producing a repeating online forum that surface areas board-level insight, amplifies credible 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 join the conversation. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the most current insights, trends, and strategies delivered straight to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the leading edge of what's next.
The GCC ETF market entered Q1 2026 in a debt consolidation stage, with activity remaining elevated however development slowing. Overall possessions held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a significant brand-new capital implementation. International macro conditions set a tough backdrop.
The result was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional pattern. Oil associated properties succeeded for the a lot of part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Absolute High-end ETF introduced 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 approved by the Abu Dhabi Stock Market (ADX). 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 only 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. In general, the information shows a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a small subset of items.
The Strategic Integration of Shared Services Across the GCCEfficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in specific nation direct exposures and commodities, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were durable throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching new highs amid higher oil prices, along with its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays 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 published positive returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East dispute and resulting energy shock have reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also faced wider macro headwinds, consisting of a more cautious policy background in China and global risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy prices. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the many part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as valuation pressures and worldwide rate dynamics weighed on performance.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, showing selective allocation rather than broad market participation. Despite weak efficiency, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of items drawing in new capital.
Trading activity stayed consistent, 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 taken place in the secondary market, allowing financiers to adjust positions without substantial main developments or redemptions.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic direct exposure focused on global luxury 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 global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the conflict has actually affected belief and costs throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional possessions.
The Strategic Integration of Shared Services Across the GCCIn spite of ongoing geopolitical stress and security risks throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate durability, keeping favorable growth momentum in recent years. While disputes in the larger region and international financial uncertainty remain a structural restraint, GCC nations have actually so far limited their effect on domestic financial performance through strong financial positions, policy connection, and sustained investment.
Latest Posts
Key Steps for Operational Excellence in Dubai
The Operational Advantages of Advanced Strategy Intelligence
Long-Term Dubai Economic Growth Patterns for 2026

