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Inform technique with proof: Usage independent information on market confidence, growth, and customer need to direct your tactical instructions. Validate financial investment plans: Guarantee resource allowance and efforts are backed by credible market insight. Speed up confident decisions: Gear up members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach contract quickly and take definitive action.
Capital is tighter. And the quality of conference room judgment will significantly determine which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In action, Ascent Club, a visibility launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level ladies, in partnership with BusinessDay, is introducing a brand-new 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 combines board professionals to examine the real pressures shaping board programs today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Threats and Concerns Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulative and governance expectations Innovation disturbance and cyber strength Long-term worth development and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards must prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers include: Moderator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Managing Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.
Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is a convening of executives contributing straight to governance, threat oversight, and tactical direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are deliberately creating a recurring online forum that surface areas board-level insight, amplifies trustworthy 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 join the discussion. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the current insights, patterns, and methods provided straight to your inbox. Sign up with Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the leading edge of what's next.
Overall properties held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful new capital deployment. Global macro conditions set a tough backdrop.
The outcome was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional pattern. Oil associated assets succeeded for the most part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Absolute Luxury ETF launched on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. Likewise in Q1, 2 more Kraneshares have actually 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 made up 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Performance across the market was broadly unfavorable, with only 13 ETFs providing favorable returns compared to 26 in decline. Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength.
Egypt delivered 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 published positive returns for the quarter. The continuous 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 dealt with more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more cautious policy backdrop in China and global risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy rates. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the most part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as assessment pressures and worldwide rate dynamics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF substantially surpassed. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, reflecting selective allotment rather than broad market involvement. In spite of weak efficiency, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of products attracting new capital. This suggests that investors were targeting particular exposures, while minimizing or rotating out of others.
Trading activity stayed constant, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. Many activity appears to have actually happened in the secondary market, making it possible for investors to change positions without substantial primary developments or redemptions. While current geopolitical events have led to more monetary pressure on GCC nations, the region stays durable and well capitalized to deal with the situation.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic direct exposure concentrated on global luxury and consumer brands. Momentum continued into April with the approval of KraneShares AGIX and KWIN ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX. These funds are expected to launch in April pending a last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some development relating to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has affected belief and costs throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional properties.
Improving UAE Worker Engagement Through Purpose-Driven LeadershipRegardless of continuous geopolitical tensions and security dangers throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show resilience, maintaining positive development momentum in current years. While disputes in the larger region and global financial unpredictability stay a structural restriction, GCC nations have up until now restricted their effect on domestic economic efficiency through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and continual investment.
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