Strategic Planning for GCC Leadership

Inform technique with evidence: Use independent information on market self-confidence, growth, and client need to direct your tactical instructions. Confirm financial investment plans: Guarantee resource allotment and initiatives are backed by credible market insight. Speed up confident choices: Gear up members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement quickly and take decisive action.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

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) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme enhances international economic ties with 26 strategic 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 United States investments over next decade," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position nation 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. Examination is higher. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will increasingly figure out which organisations sustain development and which fall back. In response, Climb Club, an exposure launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level women, in partnership with BusinessDay, is introducing a new monthly boardroom discussion convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and business leadership and who are members of Ascent Club.

Emerging Trends in the Future Middle East Economy

This inaugural session combines board specialists to examine the real pressures shaping board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Threats and Concerns Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulative and governance expectations Innovation disruption and cyber resilience Long-lasting value creation 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.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is a convening of executives contributing directly to governance, risk oversight, and strategic direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are deliberately developing a repeating online forum that surface areas board-level insight, magnifies reputable female governance voices, and expands access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.

Get the most recent insights, trends, and methods delivered straight to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to stay at the forefront of what's next.

Managing the Upcoming GCC Business Environment for Leaders

Overall assets held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful new capital release. Worldwide macro conditions set a difficult background.

The result was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional pattern. Oil related properties succeeded for the most part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Outright Luxury ETF introduced on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. Also 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 Exchange (ADX). The GCC ETF universe made up 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Performance throughout the marketplace was broadly unfavorable, with only 13 ETFs delivering positive returns compared to 26 in decline. In general, the information shows a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a little subset of items.

Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in specific country direct exposures and products, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resilient throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching new highs amid greater oil costs, along with its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.

Advanced Strategy for Middle East Leadership

Egypt provided strong performance in January and February. Despite 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 improved the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.

The sector likewise dealt with wider macro headwinds, consisting of a more cautious policy backdrop in China and global risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy prices. Thematic ETFs also struggled for the a lot of part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as evaluation pressures and global rate characteristics weighed on performance.

The petrochemical ETF significantly outshined. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly concentrated, reflecting selective allotment instead of broad market participation. Regardless of weak performance, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of items bring in new capital. This suggests that financiers were targeting particular exposures, while minimizing or turning out of others.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Why Does Operational Excellence Crucial for 2026 Growth?

Trading activity remained steady, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have actually taken location in the secondary market, allowing financiers to adjust positions without significant main developments or redemptions. While recent geopolitical occasions have resulted in more financial pressure on GCC nations, the region stays resistant and well capitalized to deal with the situation.

In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic direct exposure concentrated 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 expected to launch in April pending a last approval from ADX.

Q1 2026 showed some development associating with ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has impacted belief and costs during the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in local possessions.

Regardless of continuous geopolitical stress and security dangers across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show strength, keeping positive development momentum over the last few years. While conflicts in the broader region and global economic unpredictability stay a structural restraint, GCC countries have up until now restricted their influence on domestic economic performance through strong financial positions, policy connection, and continual investment.