Strategic Strategy for Middle East Leadership

Inform strategy with evidence: Use independent information on market confidence, development, and client demand to direct your tactical instructions. Validate investment strategies: Make sure resource allocation and initiatives are backed by credible market insight. Speed up positive choices: Gear up members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement rapidly and take definitive action.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

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 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 program enhances global economic ties with 26 strategic arrangements," 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 prepares to a minimum of double annual United States investments over next decade," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position country 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. Analysis is higher. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will significantly identify which organisations sustain development and which fall back. In response, Ascent Club, an exposure launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level ladies, in cooperation with BusinessDay, is launching a brand-new monthly conference room dialogue assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate leadership and who are members of Ascent Club.

Advanced Strategy for GCC Success

This inaugural session brings together board professionals to take a look at the real pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Threats and Concerns Forming 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulatory and governance expectations Technology disruption and cyber resilience Long-lasting value creation and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards need to prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers consist of: Moderator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Handling Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is an assembling of executives contributing straight to governance, risk oversight, and strategic direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are purposefully producing a repeating forum that surfaces board-level insight, enhances credible female governance voices, and broadens access to the tactical 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 strategies provided directly to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to stay at the leading edge of what's next.

Ways to Utilize GCC Intelligence for Growth

The GCC ETF market gone into Q1 2026 in a combination phase, with activity remaining raised but development slowing down. Overall assets held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news instead of a meaningful brand-new capital release. Global macro conditions set a challenging backdrop.

The outcome was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional trend. Oil associated properties succeeded for the most part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Absolute Luxury ETF launched on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. Likewise in Q1, two more Kraneshares have actually been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and are about to be approved by the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (ADX). The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency across the marketplace was broadly negative, with only 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decline. Overall, the data reflects a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a little subset of products.

Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in specific nation direct exposures and commodities, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resilient during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs in the middle of higher oil prices, in addition to its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays open.

Why Is Operational Excellence Crucial for Future Growth?

Egypt provided strong efficiency 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 positive returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East dispute and resulting energy shock have actually improved the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.

The sector also dealt with wider macro headwinds, consisting of a more cautious policy backdrop in China and global risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy rates. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the a lot of part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as valuation pressures and global rate dynamics weighed on performance.

The petrochemical ETF substantially exceeded. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, showing selective allotment instead of broad market participation. Regardless of weak performance, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of products attracting brand-new capital. This suggests that financiers were targeting particular direct exposures, while lowering or turning out of others.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Why Is Operational Excellence Crucial for Future Expansion?

Trading activity remained constant, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. Many activity appears to have actually taken place in the secondary market, enabling investors to change positions without substantial main productions or redemptions.

In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, including a specific niche thematic direct exposure concentrated on global luxury 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 release in April pending a last approval from ADX.

Q1 2026 showed some progress connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the conflict has affected belief and rates during the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in local assets.

In spite of ongoing geopolitical tensions and security risks throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to demonstrate durability, maintaining favorable growth momentum in recent years. While conflicts in the larger area and worldwide economic unpredictability remain a structural constraint, GCC nations have actually up until now restricted their effect on domestic financial efficiency through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and continual investment.