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Inform strategy with proof: Usage independent data on market self-confidence, development, and client demand to direct your strategic instructions. Verify financial investment strategies: Make sure resource allotment and efforts are backed by trustworthy market insight. Accelerate positive choices: Gear up members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement rapidly and take decisive action.
Capital is tighter. And the quality of boardroom judgment will progressively determine which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In action, Ascent Club, a presence launchpad curating access and opportunities for board- and C-level women, in partnership with BusinessDay, is launching a new month-to-month conference room 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.
This inaugural session brings together board practitioners to analyze the real pressures shaping board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Threats and Top Priorities Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulative and governance expectations Innovation disruption and cyber resilience Long-term value development and sustainability imperatives Leadership decisions boards need to 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 collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are intentionally creating a repeating forum that surface areas board-level insight, amplifies reputable female governance voices, and broadens access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
4 March 2026 6:00 PM WAT Zoom Register to join the discussion. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the most recent insights, patterns, and strategies delivered directly to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the forefront of what's next.
The GCC ETF market gone into Q1 2026 in a debt consolidation phase, with activity remaining raised but growth slowing. Overall assets held broadly steady over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news instead of a significant new capital deployment. Global macro conditions set a challenging background.
The result was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional pattern. Oil related properties did well for the a lot of part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Absolute High-end ETF released on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. Also in Q1, 2 more Kraneshares have been authorized for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and will be authorized by the Abu Dhabi Stock Market (ADX). The GCC ETF universe consisted of 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Performance across the market was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decline. Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength.
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 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 dealt with wider macro headwinds, consisting of a more careful policy backdrop in China and global risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and higher energy rates. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the many part, especially those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as assessment pressures and international rate characteristics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF considerably outperformed. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, reflecting selective allocation instead of broad market involvement. Despite weak performance, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of products attracting new capital. This shows that financiers were targeting specific exposures, while lowering or rotating out of others.
Trading activity remained steady, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. A lot of activity appears to have actually taken place in the secondary market, enabling investors to adjust positions without significant primary creations or redemptions.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic exposure focused on international high-end and customer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress relating to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has affected sentiment and rates throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local assets.
Constructing a Resilient Supply Chain Through GCC OutsourcingDespite ongoing geopolitical stress and security risks throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to demonstrate strength, preserving favorable growth momentum in recent years. While conflicts in the larger area and worldwide financial unpredictability stay a structural restriction, GCC nations have so far restricted their effect on domestic financial performance through strong financial positions, policy connection, and sustained investment.
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