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Inform strategy with evidence: Use independent data on market confidence, growth, and client need to assist your tactical direction. Confirm investment strategies: Ensure resource allocation and initiatives are backed by trustworthy market insight. Accelerate confident decisions: Gear up members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach contract quickly and take definitive action.
Capital is tighter. And the quality of conference room judgment will significantly identify which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In response, Climb Club, a presence launchpad curating gain access to and opportunities for board- and C-level ladies, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is introducing a new month-to-month conference room discussion assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate management and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session brings together board professionals to take a look at the real pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Risks and Top Priorities Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Developing regulatory and governance expectations Innovation disturbance and cyber durability Long-term value development and sustainability imperatives Leadership decisions boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers include: Moderator 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 straight to governance, threat oversight, and tactical direction within their organisations. Through this partnership, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are deliberately producing a recurring forum that surfaces board-level insight, amplifies reliable female governance voices, and broadens access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
4 March 2026 6:00 PM WAT Zoom Register to join the conversation. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the latest insights, trends, and techniques delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up with Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the forefront of what's next.
Total assets held broadly consistent over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a significant new capital release. Global macro conditions set a challenging background.
The result was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional trend. Oil related possessions succeeded for the a lot of part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Outright High-end ETF launched on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. In Q1, two 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 (since Q1 2026). Efficiency across the marketplace was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs delivering positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. In general, the data reflects a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a little subset of items.
Boosting Dubai Manufacturing Expansion StrategiesEfficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in particular country direct exposures and products, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resilient during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs amid greater oil prices, along with its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
Egypt delivered strong efficiency in January and February. Despite a market pullback in March due to the war, both Egypt's market and its ETFs still posted positive returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have improved the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise dealt with wider macro headwinds, including a more mindful policy backdrop in China and international risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy prices. Thematic ETFs also had a hard time for the many part, especially those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as evaluation pressures and international rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF significantly outshined. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, reflecting selective allowance instead of broad market participation. Despite weak performance, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of products bring in new capital. This indicates that financiers were targeting particular exposures, while reducing or turning out of others.
Trading activity remained steady, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have actually taken place in the secondary market, enabling financiers to adjust positions without considerable primary productions or redemptions.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, including a specific niche thematic direct exposure concentrated on worldwide high-end and consumer brands. 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 introduce in April pending a final 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 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.
How to Successfully Implement Advanced Strategies for 2026Despite continuous geopolitical tensions and security risks throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate durability, keeping positive development momentum in the last few years. While conflicts in the broader region and worldwide financial uncertainty remain a structural constraint, GCC countries have up until now restricted their effect on domestic economic performance through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and continual financial investment.
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