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Inform strategy with evidence: Usage independent information on market confidence, growth, and customer demand to assist your tactical direction. Validate financial investment strategies: Ensure resource allowance and efforts are backed by trustworthy market insight. Accelerate 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 Raise 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)," Might 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Passage (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme reinforces global financial ties with 26 strategic 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 annual United States investments over next years," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Reality Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are entering a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is greater. Risk is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will increasingly identify which organisations sustain development and which fall back. In response, Ascent Club, a presence launchpad curating access and opportunities for board- and C-level women, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is launching a new regular monthly conference room discussion assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and business leadership and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session combines board practitioners to analyze the real pressures forming board programs today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Threats and Priorities Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Developing regulative and governance expectations Technology disturbance and cyber resilience Long-lasting value development and sustainability imperatives Management decisions boards need to prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent 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 a convening of executives contributing directly to governance, risk oversight, and tactical direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are purposefully developing a repeating forum that surface areas board-level insight, magnifies trustworthy 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 current insights, trends, and strategies delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up with Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the leading edge of what's next.
The GCC ETF market gone into Q1 2026 in a consolidation stage, with activity remaining raised but development slowing down. Overall properties held broadly steady over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful new capital release. Worldwide macro conditions set a difficult background.
The outcome was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional pattern. Oil associated properties succeeded for the most part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Absolute Luxury ETF released 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 Market (ADX). The GCC ETF universe consisted of 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Performance throughout the market was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs providing favorable returns compared to 26 in decrease. Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength.
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 published favorable returns for the quarter. The continuous Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have improved the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also faced more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more mindful policy background in China and international risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical stress and higher energy prices. Thematic ETFs likewise struggled for the many part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as appraisal pressures and international rate characteristics weighed on performance.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, reflecting selective allocation rather than broad market involvement. In spite of weak efficiency, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of items attracting brand-new capital.
Trading activity remained constant, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. Many activity appears to have taken location in the secondary market, making it possible for investors to adjust positions without substantial main developments or redemptions.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, including a specific niche thematic direct exposure concentrated 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 release in April pending a last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some progress connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has actually affected belief and rates throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional properties.
Stop Utilizing Outdated Skill Retention Techniques in DubaiDespite continuous geopolitical tensions and security dangers across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate strength, maintaining positive development momentum in the last few years. While conflicts in the larger area and global economic uncertainty stay a structural restriction, GCC countries have so far limited their effect on domestic financial performance through strong fiscal positions, policy connection, and continual investment.
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