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Notify technique with proof: Use independent data on market self-confidence, development, and customer need to assist your tactical direction. Verify financial investment strategies: Make sure resource allotment and initiatives are backed by reputable market insight. Speed up positive choices: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement quickly and take definitive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA in between the GCC and the UK is a Major Strategic Opportunity to Elevate Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Declaration 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) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program enhances global economic ties with 26 tactical agreements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign complimentary trade pact 'extremely soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to at least double annual US financial investments over next decade," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Fact Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are entering a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Scrutiny is greater. Risk is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will increasingly identify which organisations sustain development and which fall back. In action, Ascent Club, a visibility launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level females, in cooperation with BusinessDay, is introducing a brand-new month-to-month boardroom dialogue convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and corporate leadership and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session unites board specialists to examine the genuine pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Threats and Priorities Forming 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Developing regulative and governance expectations Innovation interruption and cyber durability Long-lasting worth development and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards need to prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers consist of: Mediator 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, threat oversight, and strategic instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are purposefully developing a recurring online forum that surface areas board-level insight, enhances reliable female governance voices, and broadens 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, patterns, and strategies delivered straight to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the leading edge of what's next.
Overall assets held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a significant new capital deployment. Worldwide macro conditions set a tough backdrop.
The GCC ETF universe made up 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Efficiency across the market was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs delivering positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. In general, the information reflects a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a little subset of items.
Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in specific country exposures and products, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resilient during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs amidst greater oil prices, as well as its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays open.
Egypt delivered strong efficiency in January and February. Regardless of a market pullback in March due to the war, both Egypt's market and its ETFs still posted positive returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East dispute and resulting energy shock have improved the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise dealt with wider macro headwinds, consisting of a more cautious policy background in China and international risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy costs. Thematic ETFs also had a hard time for the most part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as assessment pressures and worldwide rate dynamics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF substantially outperformed. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, showing selective allocation rather than broad market participation. In spite of weak efficiency, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of items bring in new capital. This indicates that financiers were targeting particular direct exposures, while minimizing or turning out of others.
Trading activity stayed consistent, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have occurred in the secondary market, making it possible for investors to change positions without considerable primary productions or redemptions. While recent geopolitical events have actually resulted in more monetary pressure on GCC countries, the area stays resilient and well capitalized to deal with the scenario.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic direct exposure concentrated on global luxury and consumer 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 expected to introduce in April pending a final approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress associating with ETFs in the GCC. We expect more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the conflict has actually impacted belief and costs throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional properties.
Why Data Shapes Regional Enterprise SuccessDespite continuous geopolitical stress and security dangers across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show durability, preserving positive growth momentum in recent years. While conflicts in the broader area and global economic unpredictability remain a structural restraint, GCC countries have up until now limited their impact on domestic economic performance through strong financial positions, policy connection, and sustained investment.
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