All Categories
Featured
Table of Contents
Notify strategy with proof: Use independent data on market self-confidence, development, and client demand to assist your strategic direction. Validate investment strategies: Guarantee resource allotment and initiatives are backed by reliable market insight. Speed up positive decisions: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement quickly and take definitive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Chance 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)," Might 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program enhances global economic ties with 26 tactical agreements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign free trade pact 'soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to at least double annual United States financial investments over next decade," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Truth Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are getting in a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Scrutiny is higher. Threat 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, a presence launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level females, in partnership with BusinessDay, is launching a brand-new regular monthly conference room dialogue assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and business management and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session combines board practitioners to take a look at the genuine pressures forming board programs today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Risks and Top Priorities Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulative and governance expectations Innovation interruption and cyber strength Long-term worth creation and sustainability imperatives Leadership choices boards must prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent 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 directly to governance, threat oversight, and tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this partnership, Climb Club and BusinessDay are intentionally creating a repeating online forum that surface areas board-level insight, enhances reliable female governance voices, and broadens access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
Get the most recent insights, patterns, and strategies delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up with Everest Group's newsletter to stay at the forefront of what's next.
Total possessions held broadly constant 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 difficult backdrop.
The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Performance across the market was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs providing favorable returns compared to 26 in decline. Overall, the information shows a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a small subset of products.
Improving ROI Through Data-Driven GCC Market IntelligencePerformance 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 direct exposures and commodities, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were durable during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs in the middle of higher oil rates, as well as its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays open.
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 posted favorable returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East dispute and resulting energy shock have actually reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also faced broader macro headwinds, consisting of a more cautious policy backdrop in China and international risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy prices. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the many part, especially those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as appraisal pressures and international rate dynamics weighed on performance.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, reflecting selective allotment rather than broad market participation. Regardless of weak efficiency, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of products bring in new capital.
Trading activity stayed steady, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. Most activity appears to have taken place in the secondary market, making it possible for financiers to change positions without significant main developments or redemptions. While recent geopolitical events have resulted in more financial pressure on GCC nations, the area remains durable and well capitalized to handle the scenario.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic exposure concentrated 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 anticipated to introduce in April pending a last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some development associating with ETFs in the GCC. We expect more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has actually affected sentiment and prices throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional assets.
Strategic Strategy for Middle East LeadershipDespite continuous geopolitical tensions and security dangers throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate durability, preserving positive development momentum in the last few years. While conflicts in the wider region and international economic uncertainty stay a structural restriction, GCC nations have actually so far restricted their effect on domestic financial performance through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and continual financial investment.
Latest Posts
Navigating the 2026 GCC Business Environment for Leaders
How Future-Focused Strategy Reshapes the Regional Economy
How Does Business Excellence Crucial for Future Growth?


%20Market.webp)