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Inform strategy with proof: Use independent data on market confidence, development, and client demand to direct your strategic instructions. Validate investment plans: Make sure resource allocation and initiatives are backed by reputable market insight. Accelerate confident decisions: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement rapidly and take definitive action.
Capital is tighter. And the quality of conference room judgment will significantly determine which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In action, Ascent Club, a visibility launchpad curating gain access to and opportunities for board- and C-level females, in partnership with BusinessDay, is launching a new monthly conference room discussion assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and corporate management and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session combines board specialists to examine the real pressures forming board programs today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Risks and Concerns Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Developing regulative and governance expectations Innovation disturbance and cyber durability Long-term value creation and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards must prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers include: Mediator 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 directly to governance, threat oversight, and tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are intentionally developing a repeating online forum that surface areas board-level insight, enhances reliable female governance voices, and broadens access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
4 March 2026 6:00 PM WAT Zoom Register to sign up with the conversation. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the most recent insights, trends, and strategies provided directly to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to stay at the leading edge of what's next.
The GCC ETF market gone into Q1 2026 in a combination phase, with activity staying elevated however development slowing down. Total possessions held broadly consistent over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a significant new capital deployment. Global macro conditions set a difficult backdrop.
The result was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional trend. Oil related properties did well for the a lot of part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Absolute High-end ETF released on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. In Q1, two more Kraneshares have actually been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and will be approved by the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (ADX). The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Efficiency across the market was broadly negative, with only 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decline. Overall, the data reflects a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a small subset of items.
The Effect of Remote Deal With UAE Skill RetentionEfficiency 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 exposures and products, particularly 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 amidst higher oil rates, along with its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
Egypt provided 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 continuous Middle East dispute and resulting energy shock have actually reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also faced wider macro headwinds, including a more mindful policy backdrop in China and global risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical stress and higher energy costs. Thematic ETFs likewise had a hard time for the many part, especially those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as valuation pressures and international rate dynamics weighed on performance.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, showing selective allotment rather than broad market involvement. In spite of weak performance, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of products bring in new capital.
Trading activity stayed steady, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have taken place in the secondary market, enabling investors to adjust positions without considerable main productions or redemptions.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic exposure focused on worldwide 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 last approval from 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 actually affected sentiment and prices during the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in local assets.
Why Gulf Shared Service Centers Are Relocating To the CloudIn spite of continuous geopolitical tensions and security dangers throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show durability, maintaining favorable growth momentum in current years. While conflicts in the wider region and international economic uncertainty stay a structural restriction, GCC nations have actually so far restricted their effect on domestic financial efficiency through strong financial positions, policy connection, and continual financial investment.
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