All Categories
Featured
Table of Contents
Inform method with evidence: Usage independent information on market self-confidence, development, and customer need to direct your tactical instructions. Verify financial investment strategies: Ensure resource allocation and efforts are backed by trustworthy market insight. Speed up confident choices: Gear up members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach contract rapidly and take decisive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA in between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Chance 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)," May 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme reinforces international financial ties with 26 tactical agreements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign totally free trade pact 'soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to a minimum of double yearly US financial investments over next years," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Reality Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are going into a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is higher. Danger is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will progressively determine which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In action, Ascent Club, a visibility launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level ladies, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is introducing a new month-to-month conference room 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.
This inaugural session brings together board practitioners to analyze the real pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Risks and Top Priorities Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulative and governance expectations Innovation disruption and cyber durability Long-lasting worth creation and sustainability imperatives Leadership choices boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers include: Moderator 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 straight to governance, threat oversight, and tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this partnership, Climb Club and BusinessDay are intentionally producing a recurring online forum that surfaces board-level insight, magnifies reliable female governance voices, and broadens access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
4 March 2026 6:00 PM WAT Zoom Register to sign up with the discussion. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the newest insights, trends, and techniques delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up with Everest Group's newsletter to stay at the leading edge of what's next.
Total properties held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful brand-new capital release. Worldwide macro conditions set a tough backdrop.
The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Efficiency throughout the market was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs delivering positive returns compared to 26 in decline. In general, the data reflects a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a small subset of products.
Driving Dubai Industrial Expansion through StrategyEfficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in specific country direct exposures and commodities, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resilient during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching new highs in the middle of greater oil rates, along with its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays open.
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 posted favorable returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have improved the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise dealt with broader macro headwinds, consisting of a more mindful policy background in China and global risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy prices. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the many part, especially those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as assessment pressures and global rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF considerably outperformed. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, reflecting selective allowance instead of broad market participation. Regardless of weak efficiency, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of products attracting new capital. This shows that financiers were targeting specific direct exposures, while decreasing or rotating out of others.
Trading activity stayed consistent, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. A lot of activity appears to have occurred in the secondary market, making it possible for investors to change positions without substantial main developments or redemptions. While recent geopolitical events have actually resulted in more monetary pressure on GCC nations, the region stays resistant and well capitalized to deal with the situation.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, adding a 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 expected to release in April pending a last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some development relating to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the conflict has actually impacted belief and costs during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local possessions.
Regardless of ongoing geopolitical stress and security threats throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show resilience, keeping positive growth momentum over the last few years. While disputes in the larger area and international economic unpredictability stay a structural constraint, GCC nations have actually so far limited their effect on domestic economic efficiency through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and continual investment.
Latest Posts
Leveraging Market Research to Drive Operational Growth
How Is Business Excellence Essential for 2026 Growth?
Emerging Strategic Trends Defining the 2026 Regional Market


