All Categories
Featured
Table of Contents
Inform technique with evidence: Usage independent data on market confidence, growth, and customer demand to guide your tactical direction. Confirm financial investment plans: Guarantee resource allotment and efforts are backed by reliable market insight. Accelerate confident decisions: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement rapidly and take definitive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Major Strategic Opportunity to Elevate Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Statement on Economic Cooperation In Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," May 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program reinforces international economic ties with 26 strategic contracts," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign free trade pact 'soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to a minimum of double annual US investments over next years," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE 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. Scrutiny is greater. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will increasingly figure out which organisations sustain development and which fall back. In action, Ascent Club, a presence launchpad curating gain access to and opportunities for board- and C-level ladies, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is introducing a brand-new month-to-month boardroom dialogue convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate management and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session brings together board practitioners to take a look at the genuine pressures forming board programs today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Concerns Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Developing regulatory and governance expectations Technology interruption and cyber strength Long-lasting value development 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 Handling Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.
Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is an assembling of executives contributing straight to governance, risk oversight, and tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are purposefully developing a recurring online forum that surfaces board-level insight, enhances 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 sign up with the discussion. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the newest insights, patterns, and strategies delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up with Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the forefront of what's next.
The GCC ETF market entered Q1 2026 in a debt consolidation stage, with activity remaining raised however growth slowing. Total assets held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a significant new capital release. Global macro conditions set a challenging backdrop.
The outcome was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional pattern. Oil related properties did well for the many part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Absolute Luxury ETF introduced on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. In Q1, two more Kraneshares have been authorized for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and are about to be approved by the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (ADX). The GCC ETF universe consisted of 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Performance across the marketplace was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. In general, the information reflects a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a little subset of products.
Long-Term Regional Industrial Growth Models in 2026Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in particular nation direct exposures and commodities, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were durable throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching new highs amidst greater oil prices, as well as its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays open.
Egypt provided 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 posted favorable returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise faced more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more careful policy backdrop in China and international risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy prices. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the most part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as evaluation pressures and worldwide rate characteristics weighed on efficiency.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, showing selective allotment rather than broad market participation. Despite weak efficiency, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of products drawing in 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. The majority of activity appears to have actually taken location in the secondary market, enabling investors to adjust positions without significant main developments or redemptions.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic direct exposure concentrated on international luxury and consumer brand names. 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 release in April pending a final approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some progress relating to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the conflict has affected sentiment and prices throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in regional properties.
Boosting Regional Manufacturing Expansion InitiativesIn spite of ongoing geopolitical tensions and security dangers throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate durability, preserving favorable development momentum recently. While disputes in the broader area and worldwide financial unpredictability remain a structural restriction, GCC nations have actually so far limited their influence on domestic financial performance through strong financial positions, policy connection, and continual investment.
Latest Posts
How to Leverage Market Intelligence for Success
Boosting Regional Industrial Growth via Operational Excellence
Essential Steps for Industrial Excellence in Dubai

