All Categories
Featured
Table of Contents
Inform technique with evidence: Use independent information on market confidence, growth, and client demand to direct your tactical instructions. Validate investment strategies: Ensure resource allowance and efforts are backed by reputable market insight. Accelerate confident choices: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement rapidly and take decisive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA in between the GCC and the UK is a Major Strategic Chance to Elevate Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Statement on Economic Cooperation Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Countries (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 program reinforces global financial ties with 26 strategic contracts," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'very quickly'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to at least double yearly US financial investments over next decade," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Reality Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are getting in a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is higher. Danger is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will increasingly figure out which organisations sustain development and which fall back. In reaction, Climb Club, a presence launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level ladies, in cooperation with BusinessDay, is introducing a brand-new monthly conference room discussion assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate management and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session brings together board professionals to examine the real pressures shaping board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Priorities Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulative and governance expectations Technology disturbance and cyber durability Long-term worth production and sustainability imperatives Leadership choices boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Climb 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 an assembling of executives contributing directly to governance, danger oversight, and tactical direction within their organisations. Through this partnership, Climb Club and BusinessDay are purposefully developing a recurring online forum that surface areas board-level insight, amplifies trustworthy female governance voices, and broadens 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 current insights, trends, and methods delivered directly to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the forefront of what's next.
Overall assets held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful brand-new capital implementation. Global macro conditions set a difficult backdrop.
The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Performance throughout the marketplace was broadly negative, with only 13 ETFs providing favorable returns compared to 26 in decline. In general, the information reflects a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a small subset of products.
Implementing Regional Business Frameworks for Scalable SuccessPerformance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in specific nation direct exposures and commodities, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resistant during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching new highs amid higher oil costs, as well as its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains 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 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 likewise dealt with wider macro headwinds, consisting of a more mindful policy background in China and international risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy prices. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the most part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as assessment pressures and worldwide rate characteristics weighed on performance.
Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, showing selective allowance rather than broad market involvement. Despite weak efficiency, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of items bring in new capital.
Trading activity remained stable, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. A lot of activity appears to have taken location in the secondary market, allowing investors to adjust positions without considerable main productions or redemptions.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic direct exposure focused on worldwide 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 introduce in April pending a last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has actually impacted belief and costs during the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional properties.
In spite of ongoing geopolitical stress and security dangers across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show durability, preserving favorable development momentum in recent years. While disputes in the broader region and worldwide financial uncertainty stay a structural constraint, GCC countries have so far limited their influence on domestic financial performance through strong financial positions, policy connection, and sustained financial investment.
Latest Posts
Why Is Business Excellence Vital for 2026 Expansion?
Why Does Business Excellence Crucial for 2026 Expansion?
Essential GCC Market Research Reports for 2026

