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Inform technique with evidence: Use independent data on market confidence, development, and client need to direct your strategic instructions. Confirm investment strategies: Guarantee resource allocation and initiatives are backed by reliable market insight. Accelerate positive decisions: 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 between the GCC and the UK is a Major Strategic Chance to Raise Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Statement on Economic Cooperation In Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," May 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme reinforces international financial ties with 26 tactical arrangements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'extremely quickly'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to at least double annual US financial investments over next decade," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Fact Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are entering a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is higher. Danger is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will significantly identify which organisations sustain development and which fall behind. In reaction, Ascent Club, a visibility launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level females, in cooperation with BusinessDay, is launching a brand-new monthly conference room discussion convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate leadership and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session brings together board professionals to take a look at the real pressures shaping board programs today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Top Priorities Forming 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulative and governance expectations Innovation interruption and cyber resilience Long-lasting worth creation and sustainability imperatives Leadership choices boards need to prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers consist of: 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, risk oversight, and tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this partnership, Climb Club and BusinessDay are intentionally developing a repeating forum that surface areas board-level insight, enhances reliable 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 join the conversation. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the most recent insights, patterns, and strategies delivered straight to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to stay at the leading edge of what's next.
The GCC ETF market entered Q1 2026 in a combination phase, with activity remaining elevated but development slowing. Overall possessions held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news instead of a significant new capital release. International macro conditions set a tough backdrop.
The GCC ETF universe consisted of 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency throughout the marketplace was broadly negative, with only 13 ETFs delivering positive returns compared to 26 in decline. Overall, the data shows a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a little subset of products.
How Data Shapes GCC Corporate VisionPerformance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in particular country exposures and products, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were durable throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching new highs amid higher oil prices, along with its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays open.
Egypt delivered 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 published favorable returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have reshaped 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 worldwide risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy rates. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the most part, especially those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as assessment pressures and international rate characteristics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF considerably surpassed. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly concentrated, reflecting selective allowance instead of broad market participation. In spite of weak performance, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of products bring in new capital. This shows that investors were targeting particular direct exposures, while lowering or rotating out of others.
Trading activity stayed steady, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have happened in the secondary market, enabling investors to change positions without substantial main developments or redemptions. While current geopolitical occasions have actually led to more financial pressure on GCC nations, the area remains durable and well capitalized to handle the scenario.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a specific niche thematic exposure focused on global high-end and consumer brands. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on 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 conflict has actually affected belief and prices during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in regional properties.
How Data Shapes GCC Corporate VisionIn spite of ongoing geopolitical stress and security dangers across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate strength, preserving favorable growth momentum over the last few years. While conflicts in the wider region and global financial uncertainty remain a structural constraint, GCC countries have so far restricted their influence on domestic financial efficiency through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and continual financial investment.
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