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Notify strategy with proof: Usage independent data on market confidence, growth, and customer demand to guide your strategic instructions. Verify investment strategies: Ensure resource allowance and initiatives are backed by reliable market insight. Speed up positive decisions: Gear up members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement quickly 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)," May 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Passage (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program enhances worldwide economic ties with 26 strategic arrangements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign complimentary trade pact 'soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to a minimum of double yearly United States financial investments over next decade," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Reality Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are getting in a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Scrutiny is higher. Danger is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will increasingly determine which organisations sustain growth and which fall back. In reaction, Ascent Club, a presence launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level women, in partnership with BusinessDay, is releasing a new monthly conference room discussion assembling 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 unites board practitioners to examine the genuine pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Priorities Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Developing regulatory and governance expectations Innovation disturbance and cyber durability Long-lasting worth creation and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards must prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers include: Mediator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Handling Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.
Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is a convening of executives contributing straight to governance, threat oversight, and tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this partnership, Climb Club and BusinessDay are purposefully 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 conference rooms.
4 March 2026 6:00 PM WAT Zoom Register to sign up with the conversation. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the most recent insights, trends, and methods provided straight to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the forefront of what's next.
Total assets held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a significant brand-new capital release. Worldwide macro conditions set a challenging 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 only 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength.
Egypt provided 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 continuous Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise dealt with broader macro headwinds, including a more mindful policy background in China and worldwide risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy costs. Thematic ETFs likewise had a hard time for the most part, especially those connected to carbon and high-growth innovation, as valuation pressures and global rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly concentrated, reflecting selective allotment rather than broad market participation. In spite of weak efficiency, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of products bring in new capital.
Trading activity remained stable, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. Most activity appears to have taken place in the secondary market, allowing investors to adjust positions without considerable primary developments or redemptions. While current geopolitical events have actually resulted in more financial pressure on GCC countries, the region remains resistant and well capitalized to handle the circumstance.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a specific niche thematic exposure focused on worldwide luxury and customer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development relating to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has affected sentiment and costs throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in regional assets.
Navigating GCC Market Strategy in 2026In spite of ongoing geopolitical tensions and security risks across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show strength, maintaining positive development momentum recently. While conflicts in the wider area and global economic uncertainty remain a structural constraint, GCC countries have up until now restricted their effect on domestic economic efficiency through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and continual investment.
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