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Inform method with evidence: Use independent information on market confidence, development, and customer demand to direct your tactical instructions. Validate financial investment strategies: Ensure resource allowance and efforts are backed by trustworthy market insight. Speed up confident decisions: Gear up members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach contract quickly and take decisive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Chance to Elevate 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)," May 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Passage (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme reinforces global financial ties with 26 tactical contracts," 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 prepares to a minimum of double yearly US financial investments over next years," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Truth Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are entering a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is higher. Danger is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will increasingly identify which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In action, Ascent Club, a presence launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level ladies, in partnership with BusinessDay, is introducing a new month-to-month boardroom discussion assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate management and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session brings together board practitioners to analyze the genuine pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Risks and Priorities Forming 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Developing regulatory and governance expectations Innovation interruption and cyber durability Long-term worth development and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards need to prioritise heading into 2026 Climb 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 straight to governance, risk oversight, and strategic instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are purposefully producing a recurring forum that surfaces board-level insight, amplifies trustworthy 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 join the conversation. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the newest insights, trends, and strategies delivered directly to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the forefront of what's next.
Total assets held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a significant new capital implementation. Worldwide macro conditions set a tough backdrop.
The GCC ETF universe consisted of 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency throughout the market was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs delivering positive returns compared to 26 in decline. Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength.
Egypt delivered 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 positive returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East dispute and resulting energy shock have reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also dealt with wider macro headwinds, consisting of a more mindful policy background in China and international risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and higher energy prices. Thematic ETFs also struggled for the many part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as assessment pressures and worldwide rate characteristics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF significantly exceeded. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, reflecting selective allowance rather than broad market participation. Despite weak performance, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of products drawing in new capital. This suggests that financiers were targeting particular direct exposures, while decreasing or rotating out of others.
Trading activity stayed steady, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. Most activity appears to have taken place in the secondary market, enabling financiers to adjust positions without substantial main productions or redemptions.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic exposure concentrated on worldwide luxury and customer 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 expected to launch in April pending a last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some progress relating to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has actually affected belief and prices throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional assets.
In spite of continuous geopolitical tensions and security risks throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate strength, keeping favorable growth momentum recently. While disputes in the wider area and worldwide financial unpredictability remain a structural restraint, GCC countries have up until now limited their impact on domestic financial efficiency through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and continual financial investment.
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