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Notify strategy with evidence: Usage independent information on market confidence, growth, and client demand to assist your strategic instructions. Validate financial investment plans: Make sure resource allotment and efforts are backed by reputable market insight. Accelerate confident decisions: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement quickly and take decisive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Opportunity to Raise Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Declaration on Economic Cooperation In Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," Might 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program reinforces global financial ties with 26 strategic agreements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign totally free trade pact 'soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to a minimum of double yearly US investments over next years," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Truth Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are getting in a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is higher. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will significantly identify which organisations sustain growth and which fall back. In reaction, Ascent Club, a presence launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level females, in cooperation with BusinessDay, is releasing a brand-new monthly boardroom dialogue convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate leadership and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session combines board professionals to examine the genuine pressures shaping board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Top Priorities Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Developing regulative and governance expectations Technology disturbance and cyber strength Long-lasting worth creation and sustainability imperatives Management decisions boards need to prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers include: Moderator 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 directly to governance, threat oversight, and strategic direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are deliberately producing a repeating online forum that surface areas board-level insight, magnifies 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 join the discussion. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the most recent insights, trends, and strategies delivered directly to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the forefront of what's next.
The GCC ETF market gotten in Q1 2026 in a consolidation phase, with activity remaining raised but growth slowing down. Total properties held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful new capital release. International macro conditions set a tough background.
The result was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional trend. Oil associated properties succeeded for the most part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Absolute Luxury ETF launched on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. Also in Q1, two more Kraneshares have actually been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and will be authorized by the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (ADX). The GCC ETF universe consisted of 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Efficiency across the marketplace was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs delivering favorable returns compared to 26 in decrease. In general, the data shows a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a small subset of items.
How to Deploy Future Strategies in 2026Efficiency 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 products, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resilient throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil 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. Despite a market pullback in March due to the war, both Egypt's market and its ETFs still published favorable returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East conflict 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 more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more mindful policy backdrop in China and worldwide risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy costs. Thematic ETFs also had a hard time for the a lot of part, especially those connected to carbon and high-growth innovation, as appraisal pressures and international rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, showing selective allocation rather than broad market participation. Despite weak efficiency, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of products drawing in new capital.
Trading activity remained stable, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. Most activity appears to have taken location in the secondary market, enabling financiers to adjust positions without considerable primary developments or redemptions. While current geopolitical occasions have actually led to more monetary pressure on GCC nations, the region stays durable and well capitalized to handle the scenario.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic exposure focused on international luxury and customer 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 introduce in April pending a last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development associating with ETFs in the GCC. We expect more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has impacted sentiment and costs throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in regional possessions.
Regardless of ongoing geopolitical tensions and security risks throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show resilience, maintaining positive development momentum recently. While conflicts in the larger region and international financial unpredictability remain a structural restraint, GCC nations have up until now restricted their effect on domestic economic performance through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and sustained financial investment.
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