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Inform method with evidence: Use independent information on market self-confidence, growth, and client need to assist your tactical direction. Confirm financial investment strategies: Make sure resource allowance and efforts are backed by trustworthy market insight. Accelerate confident choices: Gear up 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 Significant Strategic Chance 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)," Might 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program enhances global economic ties with 26 strategic arrangements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign totally free trade pact 'very quickly'," 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 financial investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Truth Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are entering a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is higher. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will increasingly identify which organisations sustain growth and which fall back. In response, Ascent Club, a presence launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level females, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is releasing a new regular monthly boardroom discussion 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 professionals to take a look at the real pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Threats and Concerns Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulatory and governance expectations Innovation disruption and cyber durability Long-lasting value creation and sustainability imperatives Leadership choices boards need to prioritise heading into 2026 Climb 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 directly to governance, danger oversight, and tactical direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are deliberately producing a repeating forum that surfaces board-level insight, magnifies credible female governance voices, and expands 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 most current insights, trends, and strategies delivered straight to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the forefront of what's next.
The GCC ETF market gone into Q1 2026 in a consolidation stage, with activity remaining raised however growth slowing. Total possessions held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued rearranging and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a significant new capital implementation. International macro conditions set a tough background.
The result was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional pattern. Oil associated assets succeeded for the many part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Absolute Luxury ETF released on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. In Q1, 2 more Kraneshares have actually been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and are about to be approved by the Abu Dhabi Stock Market (ADX). The GCC ETF universe made up 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Efficiency across the marketplace was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs delivering positive returns compared to 26 in decline. In general, the data reflects a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a small subset of items.
Why UAE Talent Transformation Is a Competitive NecessityPerformance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in specific nation exposures and commodities, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resistant throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching new highs amid higher oil rates, in addition to its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays 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 published favorable returns for the quarter. The continuous Middle East dispute and resulting energy shock have actually improved 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 cautious policy background in China and global risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy rates. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the a lot of part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as evaluation pressures and global rate characteristics weighed on efficiency.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, reflecting selective allocation rather than broad market involvement. Despite weak performance, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of items drawing in new capital.
Trading activity stayed stable, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. A lot of activity appears to have actually taken place in the secondary market, allowing financiers to adjust positions without substantial primary productions or redemptions.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic direct exposure focused on international high-end and customer 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 anticipated to introduce in April pending a final approval from 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 actually affected belief and prices during the quarter, it has actually 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 show strength, maintaining favorable growth momentum recently. While disputes in the wider region and worldwide economic unpredictability remain a structural constraint, GCC nations have so far restricted their influence on domestic economic efficiency through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and sustained financial investment.
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