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Notify strategy with proof: Use independent data on market self-confidence, development, and customer need to assist your tactical instructions. Verify investment plans: Ensure resource allowance and initiatives are backed by reliable market insight. Speed up positive decisions: Equip members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement rapidly and take definitive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Major Strategic Chance to Raise Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Declaration 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) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program strengthens international economic ties with 26 tactical agreements," 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 decade," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Reality Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are going into a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is greater. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will significantly figure out which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In response, Ascent Club, a presence launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level females, in cooperation with BusinessDay, is launching a brand-new month-to-month boardroom dialogue assembling 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 specialists to examine the genuine pressures forming board programs today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Risks and Priorities Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulative and governance expectations Innovation disturbance and cyber resilience Long-term worth creation and sustainability imperatives Leadership choices boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers include: Mediator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Handling Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.
Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is a convening of executives contributing straight to governance, danger oversight, and tactical direction within their organisations. Through this partnership, Climb Club and BusinessDay are deliberately producing a recurring online forum that surface areas board-level insight, magnifies trustworthy 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 current insights, trends, and techniques delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up with Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the forefront of what's next.
Overall possessions held broadly steady over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a significant brand-new capital release. Global 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 associated possessions succeeded for the many part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Outright High-end ETF introduced on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. Likewise in Q1, 2 more Kraneshares have actually been authorized for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and will 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). Performance throughout the marketplace was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. Overall, the information shows a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a small subset of products.
Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in particular nation direct exposures and commodities, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resistant during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs amidst greater oil prices, along with 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 continuous Middle East dispute and resulting energy shock have reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also faced more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more careful policy background in China and worldwide risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy prices. Thematic ETFs likewise struggled for the most part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as valuation pressures and worldwide rate characteristics weighed on performance.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, reflecting selective allotment rather than broad market participation. Despite weak efficiency, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of products bring in brand-new capital.
Trading activity stayed constant, 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 occurred in the secondary market, making it possible for investors to change positions without substantial main developments or redemptions. While current geopolitical occasions have actually resulted in more monetary pressure on GCC nations, the region stays resistant and well capitalized to deal with the circumstance.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic exposure focused on international high-end and consumer brands. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress associating with ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has impacted sentiment and prices during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local assets.
Strategic Strategy for GCC SuccessIn spite of continuous geopolitical stress and security dangers across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show resilience, preserving favorable growth momentum in current years. While conflicts in the larger area and global financial unpredictability remain a structural restriction, GCC countries have actually so far restricted their impact on domestic economic efficiency through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and sustained investment.
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