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Inform strategy with proof: Usage independent information on market self-confidence, growth, and client need to assist your tactical direction. Confirm financial investment plans: Make sure resource allowance and initiatives are backed by reputable market insight. Speed up confident decisions: Gear up members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement quickly and take decisive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Major Strategic Opportunity to Raise Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Declaration on Economic Cooperation Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," May 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme reinforces international financial ties with 26 strategic arrangements," 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 plans to a minimum of double annual US financial investments over next years," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Fact Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are entering a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is greater. Danger is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will increasingly figure out which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In action, Ascent Club, an exposure launchpad curating access and opportunities for board- and C-level women, in cooperation with BusinessDay, is launching 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 brings together board professionals to take a look at the real pressures forming board programs today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Threats and Priorities Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulative and governance expectations Innovation interruption and cyber durability Long-term value creation and sustainability imperatives Leadership choices boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers consist of: 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 straight to governance, danger oversight, and tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this partnership, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are purposefully producing a repeating forum that surfaces board-level insight, amplifies trustworthy female governance voices, and expands access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
4 March 2026 6:00 PM WAT Zoom Register to join the conversation. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the most current insights, trends, and methods provided directly to your inbox. Sign up with Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the forefront of what's next.
Overall assets held broadly consistent over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a significant brand-new capital implementation. International macro conditions set a challenging background.
The result was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional pattern. Oil related possessions succeeded for the most part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Absolute Luxury ETF launched on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. In Q1, 2 more Kraneshares have actually 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 comprised 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Performance across the market was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs delivering favorable returns compared to 26 in decline. In general, the data shows a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a small subset of items.
Retention Tricks From the UAE's The majority of Effective FirmsPerformance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in specific country exposures and products, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resistant during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching new highs in the middle of greater oil rates, as well as 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 published favorable returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East dispute and resulting energy shock have actually reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise dealt with broader macro headwinds, consisting of a more cautious policy backdrop in China and international risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy rates. Thematic ETFs also struggled for the a lot of part, especially those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as evaluation pressures and global rate characteristics weighed on efficiency.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely focused, showing selective allotment rather than broad market involvement. In spite of weak performance, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of products drawing in 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. A lot of activity appears to have actually taken location in the secondary market, making it possible for financiers to adjust positions without considerable main productions or redemptions. While current geopolitical events have resulted in more monetary pressure on GCC countries, the area stays durable and well capitalized to handle the circumstance.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic exposure focused on worldwide luxury and consumer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some development connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has actually impacted belief and prices during the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in local properties.
Why Riyadh Is Becoming the Ultimate Middle East Organization LocationRegardless of ongoing geopolitical tensions and security threats across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show strength, preserving favorable growth momentum over the last few years. While disputes in the broader region and international economic unpredictability stay a structural constraint, GCC countries have so far restricted their effect on domestic financial efficiency through strong fiscal positions, policy connection, and sustained financial investment.
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