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Notify method with proof: Usage independent information on market self-confidence, development, and client need to guide your strategic instructions. Validate financial investment plans: Make sure resource allowance and efforts are backed by reliable market insight. Speed up confident choices: Gear up members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement quickly and take definitive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Opportunity to Raise Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Declaration on Economic Cooperation 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 program reinforces global financial ties with 26 tactical contracts," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'really soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to a minimum of double yearly US financial investments over next years," 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 defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is greater. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will increasingly determine which organisations sustain development and which fall behind. In reaction, Climb Club, an exposure launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level women, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is releasing a brand-new month-to-month boardroom dialogue convening 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 practitioners to analyze the real pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Concerns Forming 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Developing regulative and governance expectations Innovation disruption and cyber durability Long-term value production and sustainability imperatives Management decisions 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 Handling Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.
Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is a convening of executives contributing directly to governance, danger oversight, and strategic instructions within their organisations. Through this partnership, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are intentionally developing a repeating forum that surfaces board-level insight, magnifies reputable 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 sign up with the discussion. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the current insights, patterns, and techniques provided directly to your inbox. Sign up with Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the leading edge of what's next.
The GCC ETF market entered Q1 2026 in a debt consolidation phase, with activity staying raised however growth slowing. Overall properties held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful brand-new capital implementation. Worldwide macro conditions set a difficult backdrop.
The outcome was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional pattern. Oil associated possessions succeeded for the a lot of part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Outright Luxury ETF released on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. Likewise in Q1, two more Kraneshares have been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and are about to be authorized by the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (ADX). The GCC ETF universe consisted of 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Performance across the marketplace was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs providing favorable returns compared to 26 in decline. Overall, the information reflects a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a small subset of products.
What Foreign Entities Required to Know About Qatari LawPerformance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in specific country direct exposures and products, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were durable throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching new highs amidst higher oil prices, in addition to its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays open.
Egypt provided strong performance in January and February. In spite 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 improved the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also faced broader macro headwinds, consisting of a more careful policy backdrop in China and global risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy costs. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the many part, especially those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as appraisal pressures and global rate dynamics weighed on performance.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely focused, reflecting selective allocation rather than broad market involvement. Despite weak performance, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of items drawing in new capital.
Trading activity stayed consistent, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. Many activity appears to have happened in the secondary market, enabling investors to adjust positions without considerable main creations or redemptions. While recent geopolitical occasions have led to more monetary pressure on GCC countries, the area remains resilient and well capitalized to deal with the circumstance.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic direct exposure concentrated on global 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 launch in April pending a last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some progress associating with ETFs in the GCC. We expect more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has actually impacted sentiment and costs during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local assets.
Is Your Outsourcing Provider Ready for the 2026 Shift?Despite continuous geopolitical stress and security dangers throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to demonstrate durability, preserving positive growth momentum over the last few years. While conflicts in the larger area and worldwide economic uncertainty remain a structural restriction, GCC nations have actually so far limited their effect on domestic financial efficiency through strong financial positions, policy connection, and continual financial investment.
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