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Inform strategy with proof: Use independent information on market confidence, growth, and client need to direct your tactical instructions. Confirm investment plans: Ensure resource allotment and initiatives are backed by trustworthy market insight. Accelerate positive choices: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement rapidly and take decisive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Major Strategic Opportunity to Elevate 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)," Might 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program strengthens worldwide economic ties with 26 tactical arrangements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'really quickly'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to at least double annual United States investments over next decade," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Truth Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are entering a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is higher. Danger is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will increasingly identify which organisations sustain growth and which fall back. In reaction, Ascent Club, a visibility launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level females, in partnership with BusinessDay, is launching a new monthly conference room discussion 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 professionals to take a look at the genuine pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Threats and Priorities Forming 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulative and governance expectations Technology disruption and cyber resilience Long-term worth creation 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 an assembling of executives contributing straight to governance, danger oversight, and tactical direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are purposefully producing a repeating forum that surfaces board-level insight, enhances reputable 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 delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up with Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the leading edge of what's next.
The GCC ETF market entered Q1 2026 in a combination stage, with activity staying raised but development slowing down. Total possessions held broadly consistent over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news instead of a meaningful brand-new capital deployment. Global macro conditions set a difficult backdrop.
The result was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional pattern. Oil associated properties did well for the many part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Outright Luxury ETF launched on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. In Q1, 2 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 Exchange (ADX). The GCC ETF universe made up 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Performance across the marketplace was broadly negative, with only 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. In general, the information reflects a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a small subset of items.
The Advancement of Regional GBS Models in the GCCPerformance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in specific country direct exposures and products, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resilient throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs amidst greater oil prices, as well as its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays open.
Egypt provided 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 conflict and resulting energy shock have actually reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise dealt with more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more careful policy backdrop in China and international risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy prices. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the a lot of part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as assessment pressures and international rate characteristics weighed on performance.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, reflecting selective allocation rather than broad market involvement. Despite weak efficiency, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of items bring in new capital.
Trading activity stayed steady, 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 taken place in the secondary market, enabling investors to change positions without significant primary developments or redemptions.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, including a specific niche thematic exposure concentrated on worldwide high-end 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 introduce in April pending a last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some progress connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the conflict has impacted belief and prices during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in regional possessions.
Regardless of ongoing geopolitical tensions and security dangers throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show strength, preserving favorable development momentum recently. While disputes in the broader area and global economic uncertainty stay a structural constraint, GCC nations have actually so far restricted their effect on domestic financial performance through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and sustained financial investment.
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