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Notify method with evidence: Usage independent information on market self-confidence, development, and client demand to assist your tactical direction. Validate investment plans: Make sure resource allocation and initiatives are backed by credible market insight. Speed up confident choices: Gear up members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement 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 In Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," Might 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program enhances worldwide financial ties with 26 strategic contracts," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign free trade pact 'really quickly'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to a minimum of double yearly United States financial investments over next decade," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Truth Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are getting in a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Scrutiny is greater. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will increasingly determine which organisations sustain development and which fall behind. In response, Ascent Club, a visibility launchpad curating access and opportunities for board- and C-level ladies, in cooperation with BusinessDay, is introducing a new monthly boardroom discussion convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and corporate management and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session brings together board professionals to take a look at the real pressures forming board programs today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Threats and Top Priorities Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulatory and governance expectations Technology interruption and cyber strength Long-lasting worth creation and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards should 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 a convening of executives contributing straight to governance, risk oversight, and strategic direction within their organisations. Through this partnership, Climb Club and BusinessDay are purposefully producing a recurring online forum that surface areas board-level insight, magnifies trustworthy female governance voices, and broadens access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
4 March 2026 6:00 PM WAT Zoom Register to join the conversation. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the most recent insights, patterns, and strategies provided directly to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the leading edge of what's next.
Overall possessions held broadly consistent 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 difficult background.
The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Performance throughout the marketplace was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decline. In general, the information reflects a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a little subset of items.
The Benefits of Operational Excellence for 2026Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in specific nation exposures and products, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resilient during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching new highs in the middle of greater oil costs, in addition to its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
Egypt delivered strong efficiency 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 continuous Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have improved the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also faced more comprehensive macro headwinds, consisting of a more cautious policy background in China and worldwide risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy rates. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the many part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as valuation pressures and international rate dynamics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF significantly surpassed. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, showing selective allotment rather than broad market involvement. Regardless of weak performance, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of products drawing in brand-new capital. This indicates that investors were targeting specific exposures, while lowering or turning out of others.
Trading activity remained consistent, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. Many activity appears to have actually taken location in the secondary market, enabling investors to adjust positions without considerable main productions or redemptions.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic exposure concentrated on international luxury 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 expected to introduce in April pending a last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some development relating to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has affected sentiment and prices throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in local possessions.
Why Does Business Excellence Vital for 2026 Growth?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 show strength, preserving positive growth momentum over the last few years. While conflicts in the larger region and worldwide economic unpredictability stay a structural restraint, GCC countries have actually up until now limited their impact on domestic financial performance through strong fiscal positions, policy connection, and sustained investment.
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