All Categories
Featured
Table of Contents
Inform technique with evidence: Use independent data on market confidence, growth, and customer need to guide your strategic instructions. Confirm investment strategies: Make sure resource allocation and initiatives are backed by reliable market insight. Accelerate confident choices: Gear up members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach contract rapidly and take definitive action.

1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA in between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Chance to Raise Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Statement 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 Passage (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme enhances international financial ties with 26 tactical arrangements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign complimentary trade pact 'soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to a minimum of double yearly United States financial investments over next years," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Reality Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are getting in a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is higher. Risk is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will progressively identify which organisations sustain growth and which fall back. In reaction, Ascent Club, an exposure launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level females, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is launching a new monthly boardroom dialogue assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and corporate leadership and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session brings together board professionals to take a look at the real pressures shaping board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Top Priorities Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Developing regulative and governance expectations Innovation disturbance and cyber strength Long-term worth creation and sustainability imperatives Leadership choices boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers include: Mediator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Handling Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.

Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is an assembling of executives contributing straight to governance, threat oversight, and tactical direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are purposefully creating a recurring forum that surfaces board-level insight, magnifies reputable female governance voices, and expands access to the strategic 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, patterns, and strategies provided straight to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the forefront of what's next.
Total assets held broadly steady over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful brand-new capital implementation. International macro conditions set a difficult background.
The result was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional pattern. Oil associated properties succeeded for the many part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Absolute Luxury ETF introduced on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. In Q1, 2 more Kraneshares have been authorized for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and will 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 market was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decline. 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. 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 actually reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise dealt with broader macro headwinds, including a more careful policy background in China and international risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical stress and higher energy rates. Thematic ETFs likewise had a hard time for the most part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as appraisal pressures and worldwide rate characteristics weighed on performance.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly concentrated, reflecting selective allocation rather than broad market involvement. Despite weak efficiency, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of products bring in new capital.

Trading activity stayed consistent, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. A lot of activity appears to have actually taken location in the secondary market, making it possible for investors to adjust positions without substantial main productions or redemptions. While recent geopolitical events have resulted in more financial pressure on GCC nations, the region remains resistant and well capitalized to deal with the circumstance.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic direct exposure focused on international high-end 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 introduce in April pending a last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress relating to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has actually impacted sentiment and costs during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local possessions.
How to Secure a Leading Advantage in DubaiIn spite of ongoing geopolitical stress and security risks across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show resilience, maintaining positive development momentum over the last few years. While conflicts in the broader region and worldwide economic uncertainty stay a structural restraint, GCC countries have actually up until now restricted their effect on domestic financial performance through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and continual financial investment.
Latest Posts

Corporate Strategy for GCC Leadership

How Is Operational Excellence Essential for 2026 Growth?
Emerging Strategic Shifts Defining the 2026 GCC Economy