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Inform strategy with proof: Usage independent information on market confidence, development, and customer need to assist your tactical direction. Confirm financial investment strategies: Ensure resource allocation and efforts are backed by reliable market insight. Speed up confident decisions: Equip members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement quickly and take decisive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Major Strategic Chance to Raise Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Statement on Economic Cooperation Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (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 programme strengthens global economic ties with 26 strategic agreements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign complimentary trade pact 'extremely soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to a minimum of double yearly US investments over next years," 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 throughout Africa are going into a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is greater. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will increasingly figure out which organisations sustain development and which fall behind. In response, Ascent Club, a visibility launchpad curating access and opportunities for board- and C-level ladies, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is releasing a brand-new monthly conference room discussion assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and corporate management and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session unites board professionals to take a look at the real pressures forming board programs today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Risks and Top Priorities Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulatory and governance expectations Innovation disturbance and cyber strength Long-lasting value development and sustainability imperatives Leadership choices boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers consist of: Mediator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Handling Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.
Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is an assembling of executives contributing straight to governance, danger oversight, and strategic instructions within their organisations. Through this partnership, Climb Club and BusinessDay are purposefully creating a repeating forum that surfaces board-level insight, magnifies credible female governance voices, and expands access to the tactical 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 recent insights, patterns, and techniques provided straight to your inbox. Sign up with Everest Group's newsletter to stay at the forefront of what's next.
The GCC ETF market entered Q1 2026 in a combination phase, with activity remaining elevated but growth slowing. Overall 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 brand-new capital deployment. Global macro conditions set a difficult backdrop.
The GCC ETF universe made up 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Performance across the market was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs delivering favorable returns compared to 26 in decrease. In general, the data reflects a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a small subset of products.
Will Market Analytics Define Middle East Corporate Success?Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in specific nation exposures and products, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resistant during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs in the middle of greater oil costs, as well as its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays open.
Egypt delivered strong performance in January and February. Regardless of a market pullback in March due to the war, both Egypt's market and its ETFs still published positive returns for the quarter. The continuous 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 also faced wider macro headwinds, including a more cautious policy background in China and worldwide risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy costs. Thematic ETFs also struggled for the a lot of part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth innovation, as valuation pressures and worldwide rate dynamics weighed on performance.
Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely focused, reflecting selective allocation rather than broad market involvement. Regardless of weak efficiency, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of products bring in new capital.
Trading activity remained constant, 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 occurred in the secondary market, allowing financiers to adjust positions without considerable primary developments or redemptions. While current geopolitical events have resulted in more financial pressure on GCC countries, the area 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 international high-end and consumer brands. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development associating with ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has actually impacted sentiment and costs throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in regional properties.
Will Market Analytics Define Middle East Corporate Success?Regardless of continuous geopolitical stress and security risks across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to demonstrate resilience, preserving positive growth momentum in the last few years. While disputes in the larger area and global financial uncertainty stay a structural constraint, GCC nations have actually so far limited their effect on domestic economic efficiency through strong financial positions, policy connection, and continual investment.
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