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Inform strategy with evidence: Use independent information on market self-confidence, development, and customer need to assist your strategic instructions. Validate investment strategies: Make sure resource allocation and initiatives are backed by trustworthy market insight. Accelerate positive choices: Gear up members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement rapidly and take decisive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA in 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 strengthens worldwide economic ties with 26 tactical agreements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign complimentary trade pact 'soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to at least double yearly United States investments over next decade," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Truth Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are getting in a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Scrutiny is higher. Risk is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will increasingly determine which organisations sustain development and which fall back. In reaction, Ascent Club, a visibility launchpad curating gain access to and opportunities for board- and C-level ladies, in partnership with BusinessDay, is introducing a brand-new month-to-month boardroom discussion assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate leadership and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session brings together board practitioners to examine the genuine pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Threats and Concerns Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulatory and governance expectations Innovation disruption and cyber resilience Long-lasting value creation and sustainability imperatives Leadership decisions 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 a convening of executives contributing straight to governance, threat oversight, and tactical direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are intentionally creating a recurring online forum that surfaces board-level insight, enhances trustworthy female governance voices, and broadens access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
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Overall properties held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful new capital implementation. Global 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 negative, with just 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. 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. Regardless 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 continuous Middle East dispute and resulting energy shock have improved the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise faced broader macro headwinds, consisting of a more mindful policy background in China and global risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy prices. Thematic ETFs also had a hard time for the a lot of part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as evaluation pressures and international rate characteristics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF considerably outshined. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, reflecting selective allowance rather than broad market participation. Regardless of weak performance, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of products bring in new capital. This shows that investors were targeting specific exposures, while lowering or turning out of others.
Trading activity stayed consistent, 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 actually occurred in the secondary market, making it possible for financiers to change positions without substantial primary productions or redemptions. While recent geopolitical events have resulted in more monetary pressure on GCC countries, the area stays resilient and well capitalized to deal with the situation.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic direct exposure focused on global high-end 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 anticipated to introduce in April pending a final approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development associating with ETFs in the GCC. We expect more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has affected belief and costs during the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional assets.
The Shift Towards Outcome-Based Outsourcing in the GCCRegardless of continuous geopolitical stress and security threats across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to demonstrate resilience, keeping positive growth momentum in recent years. While conflicts in the larger region and worldwide economic uncertainty stay a structural constraint, GCC countries have actually up until now limited their effect on domestic economic efficiency through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and sustained investment.
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