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Notify strategy with evidence: Use independent data on market self-confidence, development, and client need to direct your tactical instructions. Confirm financial investment plans: Ensure resource allocation and initiatives are backed by reputable market insight. Speed up confident choices: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement rapidly and take definitive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA in between the GCC and the UK is a Major Strategic Opportunity to Raise Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Statement 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) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program reinforces global economic ties with 26 strategic contracts," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to at least double yearly US investments over next years," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Fact Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are entering a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is greater. Risk is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will increasingly identify which organisations sustain development and which fall back. In reaction, Climb Club, a presence launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level females, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is releasing a new monthly conference room discussion convening 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 brings together board specialists to analyze the genuine pressures shaping board programs today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Concerns Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulatory and governance expectations Technology disruption and cyber durability Long-term worth creation and sustainability imperatives Leadership decisions boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers include: Mediator 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 directly to governance, threat oversight, and strategic instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are intentionally creating a repeating forum that surface areas board-level insight, enhances trustworthy female governance voices, and expands access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
4 March 2026 6:00 PM WAT Zoom Register to join the conversation. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the current insights, trends, and techniques delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up with Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the forefront of what's next.
Total assets held broadly steady 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. Worldwide macro conditions set a tough background.
The outcome was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional trend. Oil related properties did well for the most part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Absolute Luxury ETF launched on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. Also in Q1, 2 more Kraneshares have actually been authorized for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and are about to be approved by the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (ADX). The GCC ETF universe made up 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Efficiency across the market was broadly negative, with only 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decline. Overall, the information shows a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a little subset of items.
Why GCC Outsourcing Is Rotating Towards Specialized ProvidersPerformance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in specific nation exposures and products, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resistant throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs amid greater oil prices, as well as its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
Egypt provided strong efficiency in January and February. Despite a market pullback in March due to the war, both Egypt's market and its ETFs still published positive returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East dispute and resulting energy shock have actually reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise faced more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more careful policy background in China and global risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy prices. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the most part, especially those connected to carbon and high-growth innovation, as valuation pressures and international rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, showing selective allotment rather than broad market involvement. Despite weak efficiency, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of products bring in new capital.
Trading activity remained steady, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. Most activity appears to have taken location in the secondary market, making it possible for investors to change positions without significant main developments or redemptions.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic exposure focused on global luxury and customer brands. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development relating to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has impacted sentiment and prices throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional properties.
Regardless of continuous geopolitical tensions and security risks throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show durability, preserving favorable growth momentum over the last few years. While disputes in the broader area and international financial uncertainty remain a structural restriction, GCC nations have actually up until now restricted their influence on domestic financial efficiency through strong financial positions, policy connection, and continual financial investment.
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