All Categories
Featured
Table of Contents
Inform strategy with evidence: Use independent information on market confidence, growth, and client need to guide your tactical instructions. Verify investment plans: Make sure resource allotment and initiatives are backed by reputable market insight. Accelerate confident choices: Gear up members of your executive team 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 Major Strategic Opportunity to Raise 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)," Might 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Passage (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme strengthens international economic ties with 26 strategic arrangements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'very soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to at least double yearly US investments over next years," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Reality Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are getting in a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is higher. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will significantly determine which organisations sustain development and which fall back. In action, Climb Club, a presence launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level females, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is releasing a brand-new month-to-month conference room discussion convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and business leadership and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session combines board specialists to examine the genuine pressures forming board programs today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Top Priorities Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulative and governance expectations Innovation disruption and cyber durability Long-lasting value production and sustainability imperatives Leadership choices boards need to prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers include: Mediator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Managing Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.

Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is a convening of executives contributing directly to governance, threat oversight, and tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are deliberately developing a recurring forum that surfaces board-level insight, magnifies reliable female governance voices, and expands access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
Get the most recent insights, patterns, and methods provided straight to your inbox. Sign up with 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 repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a significant brand-new capital release. Global macro conditions set a challenging backdrop.
The result was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional pattern. Oil associated properties did well for the many part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Outright High-end 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 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 (since Q1 2026). Performance across the marketplace was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs delivering favorable returns compared to 26 in decrease. In general, the data reflects a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a small subset of items.
Effective Tips for Driving Regional Sector SuccessPerformance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in particular country direct exposures and commodities, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were durable throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs amid greater oil rates, along with 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 reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise dealt with wider macro headwinds, including a more cautious policy background in China and global risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy prices. Thematic ETFs also struggled for the a lot of part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as valuation pressures and global rate characteristics weighed on efficiency.
Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely focused, reflecting selective allowance rather than broad market participation. Regardless of weak efficiency, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of products drawing in brand-new capital.

Trading activity remained consistent, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. Most activity appears to have taken location in the secondary market, enabling financiers to change positions without substantial main developments or redemptions.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a specific niche thematic exposure focused on worldwide luxury and consumer brands. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development relating to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has affected sentiment and prices during the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in local assets.
Emerging Strategic Trends Defining the 2026 Regional EconomyDespite continuous geopolitical stress and security dangers throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show resilience, maintaining positive growth momentum in the last few years. While conflicts in the larger region and worldwide economic unpredictability remain a structural restriction, GCC nations have actually so far restricted their effect on domestic financial efficiency through strong financial positions, policy connection, and sustained financial investment.
Latest Posts
Why Is Business Excellence Crucial for Future Growth?

Key GCC Market Research Insights for 2026

Scaling Corporate Growth Through Operational Innovation