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Inform strategy with proof: Use independent information on market confidence, growth, and customer need to assist your tactical instructions. Validate investment strategies: Guarantee resource allowance and initiatives are backed by trustworthy market insight. Accelerate positive choices: Gear up members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement quickly and take decisive action.

Capital is tighter. And the quality of boardroom judgment will significantly figure out which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In reaction, Ascent Club, a presence launchpad curating access and opportunities for board- and C-level females, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is releasing a new regular monthly boardroom dialogue assembling 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 unites board specialists to analyze the genuine pressures shaping board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Concerns Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulative and governance expectations Innovation interruption and cyber durability Long-lasting value production and sustainability imperatives Management decisions boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers include: 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 directly to governance, danger oversight, and tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are deliberately producing a repeating online forum that surfaces board-level insight, amplifies credible 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 current insights, patterns, and methods provided straight to your inbox. Sign up with Everest Group's newsletter to stay at the leading edge of what's next.
The GCC ETF market gone into Q1 2026 in a debt consolidation stage, with activity staying raised however growth slowing down. Overall assets held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a response to geopolitical news instead of a meaningful brand-new capital implementation. 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 related possessions succeeded for the many part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Absolute High-end ETF introduced on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. Likewise in Q1, two more Kraneshares have actually been authorized for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and will be approved 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 across the market was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs delivering positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. Overall, the data shows a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a little subset of items.
Forward-Thinking Corporate Models Within 2026 MarketsPerformance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in particular country direct exposures and products, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resistant during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching new highs amid greater oil rates, in addition to its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
Egypt delivered strong performance in January and February. Regardless 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 ongoing Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have 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, consisting of a more careful policy background in China and global risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical stress and higher energy rates. Thematic ETFs likewise had a hard time for the many part, especially those connected to carbon and high-growth innovation, as evaluation pressures and international rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, reflecting selective allowance rather than broad market participation. Despite weak performance, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of items attracting new capital.
Trading activity stayed steady, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. A lot of activity appears to have taken location in the secondary market, enabling investors to change positions without considerable primary developments or redemptions.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic exposure focused on worldwide high-end and consumer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some progress relating to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the conflict has affected sentiment and prices during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local assets.
Regardless of continuous geopolitical stress and security dangers throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to demonstrate strength, preserving positive development momentum in current years. While disputes in the broader area and global financial uncertainty remain a structural constraint, GCC countries have so far limited their influence on domestic economic efficiency through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and continual investment.
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