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Inform method with proof: Use independent data on market confidence, development, and customer need to direct your tactical instructions. Confirm investment plans: Make sure resource allowance and efforts are backed by trustworthy market insight. Accelerate positive choices: Equip members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach contract quickly and take definitive action.
Capital is tighter. And the quality of boardroom judgment will progressively identify which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In response, Climb Club, a visibility launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level ladies, in partnership with BusinessDay, is introducing a brand-new month-to-month boardroom dialogue assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and business leadership and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session unites board practitioners to analyze the real pressures shaping board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Risks and Priorities Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Developing regulative and governance expectations Technology disruption and cyber strength Long-term worth creation and sustainability imperatives Leadership choices boards need to 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 an assembling of executives contributing straight to governance, risk oversight, and strategic direction within their organisations. Through this partnership, Climb Club and BusinessDay are purposefully creating a recurring forum that surfaces board-level insight, magnifies trustworthy female governance voices, and expands access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
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The GCC ETF market entered Q1 2026 in a consolidation phase, with activity remaining elevated however development slowing. Total possessions held broadly consistent over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news instead of a significant new capital implementation. Global macro conditions set a difficult backdrop.
The outcome was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional trend. Oil associated assets succeeded for the most part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Outright Luxury ETF launched on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. Likewise in Q1, two more Kraneshares have actually been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and are about to 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). Efficiency across the market was broadly negative, 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. Regardless 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 dispute and resulting energy shock have actually reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also faced more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more mindful policy backdrop in China and global risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy costs. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the most part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth innovation, as evaluation pressures and worldwide rate characteristics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF substantially outperformed. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly concentrated, showing selective allocation rather than broad market participation. In spite of weak efficiency, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of items attracting brand-new capital. This suggests that investors were targeting particular direct exposures, while minimizing or rotating out of others.
Trading activity remained steady, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. A lot of activity appears to have occurred in the secondary market, allowing financiers to change positions without considerable primary creations or redemptions. While current geopolitical occasions have actually led to more monetary pressure on GCC countries, the region remains durable and well capitalized to deal with the situation.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic direct exposure concentrated on global luxury 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 final approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress associating with ETFs in the GCC. We expect more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has actually affected sentiment and rates throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local properties.
How to Utilize Market Research for GrowthDespite continuous geopolitical tensions and security threats across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show durability, preserving favorable growth momentum over the last few years. While conflicts in the wider area and international economic uncertainty stay a structural constraint, GCC nations have actually so far restricted their impact on domestic economic efficiency through strong financial positions, policy connection, and sustained investment.
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