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Inform method with proof: Use independent data on market confidence, growth, and customer demand to assist your tactical direction. Validate investment plans: Ensure resource allocation and efforts are backed by trustworthy market insight. Speed up confident choices: Gear up members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement rapidly and take decisive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA in between the GCC and the UK is a Major Strategic Chance to Elevate Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Declaration on Economic Cooperation Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," Might 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme enhances worldwide financial ties with 26 tactical contracts," 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 plans to a minimum of double yearly US financial investments over next decade," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Reality Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are getting in a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is higher. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will increasingly determine which organisations sustain development and which fall back. In response, Climb Club, a presence launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level ladies, in cooperation with BusinessDay, is introducing a new regular monthly conference room discussion assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and business management and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session brings together board professionals to analyze the genuine pressures shaping board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Risks and Priorities Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulative and governance expectations Technology disturbance and cyber durability Long-term worth development and sustainability imperatives Leadership decisions boards must prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers consist of: 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 partnership, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are deliberately creating a repeating online forum that surfaces board-level insight, magnifies trustworthy female governance voices, and expands access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
4 March 2026 6:00 PM WAT Zoom Register to sign up with the discussion. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the most current insights, trends, and methods delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up with Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the leading edge of what's next.
Total possessions held broadly consistent over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a significant new capital release. 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 negative, with just 13 ETFs delivering positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. Overall, the information shows a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a small 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 focused in specific country exposures and commodities, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resilient throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching new highs in the middle of higher oil prices, in addition to its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
Egypt provided 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 favorable 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 faced wider macro headwinds, including a more cautious policy backdrop in China and international risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy costs. Thematic ETFs likewise struggled for the most part, especially those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as valuation pressures and international rate dynamics weighed on performance.
Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely focused, showing selective allotment rather than broad market participation. In spite of weak performance, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of products attracting new capital.
Trading activity remained consistent, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have actually taken location in the secondary market, making it possible for financiers to adjust positions without significant primary productions or redemptions.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic direct exposure focused on international 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 release in April pending a last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development associating with ETFs in the GCC. We expect more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the conflict has impacted sentiment and prices during the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in local possessions.
Choosing the Right Saudi Center for Your Logistics ServiceIn spite of ongoing geopolitical tensions and security threats across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show resilience, preserving favorable growth momentum in current years. While conflicts in the wider region and global economic unpredictability stay a structural constraint, GCC nations have actually so far limited their effect on domestic economic performance through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and sustained financial investment.
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