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Inform technique with evidence: Use independent information on market self-confidence, development, and client need to assist your tactical direction. Validate financial investment plans: Guarantee resource allotment and efforts are backed by trustworthy market insight. Accelerate positive choices: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement quickly and take definitive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA in between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Opportunity to Elevate Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Declaration on Economic Cooperation In Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (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 reinforces international financial ties with 26 tactical contracts," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'very soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to at least double yearly US financial investments over next years," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Reality Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are entering a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is greater. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will significantly determine which organisations sustain development and which fall behind. In action, Climb Club, a visibility launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level women, in cooperation with BusinessDay, is introducing a new regular monthly boardroom dialogue convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate management and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session brings together board practitioners to analyze the genuine pressures shaping board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Risks and Top Priorities Forming 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulatory and governance expectations Technology disruption and cyber strength Long-lasting value production and sustainability imperatives Management choices 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 an assembling of executives contributing directly to governance, risk oversight, and tactical direction within their organisations. Through this partnership, Climb Club and BusinessDay are intentionally creating a repeating online forum that surface areas board-level insight, enhances credible female governance voices, and broadens access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
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The GCC ETF market gone into Q1 2026 in a combination phase, with activity remaining elevated but development slowing down. Overall properties held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news instead of a significant brand-new capital deployment. International macro conditions set a difficult backdrop.
The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency throughout the market was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs delivering favorable 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 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 published positive 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 dealt with wider macro headwinds, including a more mindful policy backdrop in China and worldwide risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy rates. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the most part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as valuation pressures and global rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF significantly exceeded. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, showing selective allotment instead of broad market involvement. In spite of weak efficiency, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of items bring in brand-new capital. This shows that financiers were targeting specific direct exposures, while decreasing or rotating out of others.
Trading activity stayed stable, with typical 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, allowing investors to adjust positions without significant main developments or redemptions.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic exposure concentrated on worldwide luxury and consumer 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 expected to introduce in April pending a last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some progress associating with ETFs in the GCC. We expect more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the conflict has actually affected belief and prices during the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in local properties.
Sustainable Regional Economic Growth Models in 2026In spite of ongoing geopolitical tensions and security risks across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show resilience, keeping positive development momentum in the last few years. While conflicts in the larger region and international financial uncertainty stay a structural constraint, GCC nations have actually so far limited their effect on domestic financial performance through strong fiscal positions, policy connection, and sustained financial investment.
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