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Notify technique with proof: Usage independent information on market self-confidence, development, and client need to guide your strategic direction. Verify investment strategies: Guarantee resource allowance and efforts are backed by trustworthy market insight. Accelerate confident choices: Equip members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach contract quickly and take decisive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA in between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Opportunity to Raise Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Statement on Economic Cooperation In 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 program reinforces international financial ties with 26 tactical contracts," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to at least double yearly US investments over next years," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Fact Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are getting in a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is greater. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will significantly figure out which organisations sustain development and which fall back. In response, Ascent Club, an exposure launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level women, in partnership with BusinessDay, is launching a new month-to-month conference room dialogue convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate leadership and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session unites board specialists to examine the real pressures shaping board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Priorities Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Developing regulative and governance expectations Innovation interruption and cyber durability Long-term worth production and sustainability imperatives Leadership choices boards must prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers consist of: Moderator 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 directly to governance, danger oversight, and strategic instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are purposefully developing a recurring online forum that surfaces board-level insight, magnifies trustworthy female governance voices, and expands access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
4 March 2026 6:00 PM WAT Zoom Register to join the discussion. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the latest insights, trends, and methods provided directly to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to stay at the forefront of what's next.
Overall properties held broadly steady over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful brand-new capital implementation. Global macro conditions set a challenging background.
The GCC ETF universe consisted of 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency across the market was broadly negative, with only 13 ETFs providing favorable returns compared to 26 in decline. In general, the data reflects a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a little subset of products.
Efficiency 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 resistant during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs amid greater oil prices, along with its continued ability 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 posted favorable returns for the quarter. The ongoing 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 likewise dealt with wider macro headwinds, consisting of a more careful policy backdrop in China and international risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical stress and higher energy costs. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the a lot of part, especially those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as valuation pressures and international rate characteristics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF significantly outshined. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, reflecting selective allowance instead of broad market involvement. Regardless of weak efficiency, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of products attracting new capital. This indicates that financiers were targeting specific exposures, while decreasing or turning out of others.
Trading activity remained constant, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. Most activity appears to have actually taken place in the secondary market, enabling investors to adjust positions without significant primary developments or redemptions.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic direct exposure focused on worldwide luxury and customer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress relating to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has affected belief and rates during the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional properties.
Despite continuous geopolitical tensions and security dangers across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate resilience, maintaining favorable development momentum in the last few years. While disputes in the wider area and worldwide economic uncertainty remain a structural restriction, GCC countries have actually so far limited their influence on domestic economic performance through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and continual financial investment.
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