Leading the Upcoming GCC Business Landscape for Executives

Notify technique with proof: Usage independent data on market self-confidence, growth, and customer demand to guide your tactical instructions. Validate investment strategies: Guarantee resource allocation and efforts are backed by reliable market insight. Accelerate confident decisions: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement quickly and take definitive action.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

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 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 enhances global economic ties with 26 tactical arrangements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to a minimum of double annual United States financial investments over next decade," Might 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 going into a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is greater. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will significantly determine which organisations sustain development and which fall back. In response, Ascent Club, a visibility launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level ladies, in cooperation 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 leadership and who are members of Ascent Club.

Leading the Upcoming Regional Business Landscape for Executives

This inaugural session brings together board professionals to examine the real pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Concerns Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Developing regulatory and governance expectations Innovation disruption and cyber resilience Long-lasting value creation and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers include: Moderator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Handling Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is an assembling of executives contributing directly to governance, danger oversight, and tactical direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are deliberately creating a recurring forum that surfaces board-level insight, enhances credible female governance voices, and expands access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.

Get the latest insights, trends, and strategies provided directly to your inbox. Sign up with Everest Group's newsletter to stay at the forefront of what's next.

Corporate Strategy for Regional Leadership

Total properties held broadly steady over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a significant brand-new capital deployment. Global macro conditions set a challenging backdrop.

The GCC ETF universe consisted of 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Efficiency across the market was broadly unfavorable, with only 13 ETFs delivering favorable returns compared to 26 in decline. In general, the data shows a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a little subset of products.

Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in specific nation direct exposures and products, 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 new highs amidst greater oil prices, in addition to its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays open.

How Does Business Excellence Essential for Future Growth?

Egypt delivered 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 conflict 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 cautious policy background in China and international risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy costs. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the many part, especially those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as assessment pressures and worldwide rate characteristics weighed on performance.

The petrochemical ETF considerably exceeded. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, showing selective allotment rather than broad market involvement. In spite of weak performance, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of products attracting new capital. This suggests that investors were targeting particular direct exposures, while minimizing or turning out of others.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Corporate Planning for GCC Success

Trading activity stayed stable, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have taken place in the secondary market, enabling financiers to change positions without considerable primary creations or redemptions.

In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic exposure focused on global high-end 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 anticipate more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the conflict has actually impacted sentiment and prices throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in regional properties.

Despite continuous geopolitical tensions and security dangers across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate strength, keeping favorable development momentum over the last few years. While conflicts in the larger area and international economic unpredictability stay a structural constraint, GCC countries have so far restricted their influence on domestic economic performance through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and sustained financial investment.