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Inform technique with proof: Usage independent data on market confidence, development, and client demand to guide your tactical instructions. Confirm investment plans: Guarantee resource allocation and efforts are backed by credible market insight. Accelerate confident decisions: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement quickly and take decisive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Opportunity to Elevate 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)," May 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program strengthens global financial ties with 26 strategic contracts," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign totally free trade pact 'extremely quickly'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to at least 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, "Reality Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are entering a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Scrutiny is higher. Risk is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will progressively 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 women, in cooperation with BusinessDay, is releasing a new regular monthly conference room dialogue assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and corporate management and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session combines board professionals to take a look at the genuine pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Threats and Top Priorities Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulative and governance expectations Technology interruption and cyber durability Long-lasting worth development and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards must 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 an assembling of executives contributing directly to governance, danger oversight, and strategic instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are purposefully developing a repeating forum that surfaces board-level insight, magnifies reliable female governance voices, and expands 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 conversation. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the latest insights, patterns, and methods provided directly to your inbox. Sign up with Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the forefront of what's next.
The GCC ETF market gotten in Q1 2026 in a combination phase, with activity staying raised however growth slowing down. Total possessions held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful brand-new capital implementation. Worldwide macro conditions set a difficult background.
The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency throughout the market was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decline. Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength.
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 positive returns for the quarter. The continuous 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 faced wider macro headwinds, consisting of a more mindful policy background in China and international risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy costs. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the a lot of part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth innovation, as assessment pressures and worldwide rate dynamics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF significantly outperformed. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly concentrated, reflecting selective allocation rather than broad market involvement. In spite of weak performance, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of products attracting new capital. This indicates that investors were targeting particular direct exposures, while minimizing or turning out of others.
Trading activity remained steady, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have actually occurred in the secondary market, making it possible for financiers to adjust positions without significant primary developments or redemptions. While recent geopolitical events have resulted in more financial pressure on GCC nations, the region stays durable and well capitalized to handle the situation.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, including a specific niche thematic 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 launch in April pending a last approval from 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 impacted sentiment and rates during the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in local possessions.
Regardless of ongoing geopolitical stress and security dangers throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show durability, keeping favorable development momentum recently. While disputes in the wider area and worldwide financial uncertainty remain a structural constraint, GCC countries have actually up until now restricted their effect on domestic economic efficiency through strong financial positions, policy connection, and sustained financial investment.
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