All Categories
Featured
Table of Contents
Notify technique with evidence: Usage independent information on market confidence, development, and customer need to guide your tactical direction. Confirm financial investment strategies: Make sure resource allocation and initiatives are backed by reliable market insight. Speed up confident choices: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach contract quickly and take decisive action.

Capital is tighter. And the quality of boardroom judgment will significantly identify which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In response, Ascent Club, an exposure launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level ladies, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is releasing a new monthly conference room dialogue convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and business leadership and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session unites board professionals to analyze the genuine pressures shaping board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Threats and Priorities Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulatory and governance expectations Technology disturbance and cyber durability Long-term value development and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards should 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 a convening of executives contributing straight to governance, threat oversight, and strategic instructions within their organisations. Through this partnership, Climb Club and BusinessDay are deliberately developing a repeating forum that surface areas board-level insight, magnifies reputable 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 sign up with the discussion. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the latest insights, patterns, and methods delivered straight to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the leading edge of what's next.
Overall properties held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a significant brand-new capital deployment. Global macro conditions set a tough background.
The result was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional pattern. Oil associated possessions succeeded for the a lot of part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Outright High-end ETF introduced on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. Likewise in Q1, 2 more Kraneshares have been approved 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 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 delivering favorable returns compared to 26 in decline. Overall, the information reflects a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a little subset of products.
Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in particular nation direct exposures and commodities, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resilient throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching new highs in the middle of higher oil rates, as well as its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
Egypt provided 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 dispute and resulting energy shock have actually improved the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise faced wider macro headwinds, consisting of a more cautious policy background in China and international risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and higher energy rates. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the a lot of part, especially those connected to carbon and high-growth innovation, as evaluation pressures and international rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, showing selective allotment rather than broad market involvement. In spite of weak performance, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of products bring in brand-new capital.

Trading activity stayed steady, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. A lot of activity appears to have actually taken place in the secondary market, making it possible for investors to adjust positions without significant main creations or redemptions.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic exposure focused on worldwide luxury and consumer brands. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development associating with ETFs in the GCC. We expect more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has affected sentiment and rates during the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional possessions.
Ways to Leverage GCC Intelligence for GrowthRegardless of ongoing geopolitical stress and security threats throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show strength, maintaining positive development momentum in the last few years. While disputes in the larger area and international economic unpredictability remain a structural restriction, GCC nations have actually up until now restricted their effect on domestic economic performance through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and continual financial investment.
Latest Posts
Comparing Corporate Strategy Models across the GCC

The Benefits of Industrial Growth for Dubai
Crucial Middle East Market Research Insights in 2026