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Notify technique with proof: Usage independent information on market self-confidence, growth, and client need to assist your strategic direction. Validate financial investment strategies: Ensure resource allocation and initiatives are backed by trustworthy market insight. Accelerate confident choices: 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 Chance to Raise Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Statement 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 Passage (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme strengthens global economic ties with 26 strategic contracts," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign complimentary 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 financial investments over next years," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Truth Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are getting in a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is greater. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will significantly determine which organisations sustain growth and which fall back. In response, Climb Club, an exposure launchpad curating access and opportunities for board- and C-level females, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is introducing a brand-new month-to-month boardroom discussion convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and business management 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 BOARDROOM: The Strategic Risks and Concerns Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Developing regulative and governance expectations Innovation interruption and cyber resilience Long-lasting value development and sustainability imperatives Leadership decisions boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers consist of: Mediator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Handling Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.
Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is an assembling of executives contributing straight to governance, danger oversight, and strategic instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are purposefully producing a repeating online forum that surfaces board-level insight, amplifies trustworthy female governance voices, and broadens access to the tactical 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 recent insights, trends, and strategies provided straight to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the leading edge of what's next.
Total possessions held broadly consistent over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a significant new capital release. Worldwide macro conditions set a tough background.
The outcome was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional pattern. Oil related properties did well for the many part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Absolute Luxury ETF launched on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. In Q1, two more Kraneshares have actually been authorized 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 comprised 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Efficiency throughout the marketplace was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. In general, the data shows a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a little subset of products.
Creating a Collaborative Outsourcing Environment for 2026Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in specific country exposures and commodities, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resistant throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching new highs in the middle of greater oil costs, as well as its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
Egypt provided strong efficiency in January and February. Despite a market pullback in March due to the war, both Egypt's market and its ETFs still posted favorable returns for the quarter. The continuous 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 more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more careful policy backdrop in China and worldwide risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy rates. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the most part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as valuation pressures and global rate characteristics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF considerably outperformed. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, reflecting selective allocation rather than broad market participation. Regardless of weak performance, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of products bring in brand-new capital. This indicates that financiers were targeting particular exposures, while lowering or rotating out of others.
Trading activity stayed constant, 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, allowing financiers to adjust positions without substantial main developments or redemptions. While current geopolitical events have actually led to more financial pressure on GCC nations, the area remains durable and well capitalized to handle the circumstance.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic direct exposure focused on international luxury and customer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has affected sentiment and costs during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local possessions.
Creating a Collaborative Outsourcing Environment for 2026In spite of continuous geopolitical stress and security dangers throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate durability, maintaining favorable development momentum in the last few years. While conflicts in the wider area and global financial unpredictability stay a structural constraint, GCC countries have so far restricted their impact on domestic financial efficiency through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and sustained investment.
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