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Notify technique with proof: Use independent data on market self-confidence, growth, and client demand to guide your strategic direction. Validate investment plans: Ensure resource allotment 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 definitive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Major Strategic Chance to Raise Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Declaration on Economic Cooperation Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," May 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Passage (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program strengthens international financial ties with 26 strategic contracts," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign free trade pact 'very quickly'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to a minimum of double yearly US financial investments over next years," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Truth Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are going into a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is greater. Risk is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will increasingly determine which organisations sustain development and which fall back. In response, Ascent Club, a presence launchpad curating access and opportunities for board- and C-level ladies, in partnership with BusinessDay, is introducing a brand-new monthly boardroom discussion assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and business management and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session brings together board practitioners to analyze the genuine pressures shaping board programs today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Threats and Concerns Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulatory and governance expectations Technology disruption and cyber resilience Long-term worth production and sustainability imperatives Leadership choices boards need to prioritise heading into 2026 Climb 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 a convening of executives contributing directly to governance, danger oversight, and strategic direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are intentionally developing a repeating online forum that surfaces board-level insight, magnifies reputable 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 current insights, trends, and strategies delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up with Everest Group's newsletter to stay at the leading edge of what's next.
Total possessions held broadly consistent over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a significant brand-new capital release. International macro conditions set a tough background.
The outcome was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional trend. Oil associated properties succeeded for the most part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Outright Luxury ETF launched on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. In Q1, 2 more Kraneshares have been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and will be authorized by the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (ADX). The GCC ETF universe consisted of 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency across the market was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs delivering favorable returns compared to 26 in decrease. Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength.
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 favorable returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East conflict 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 dealt with wider macro headwinds, including a more careful policy backdrop in China and international risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy rates. Thematic ETFs likewise struggled for the a lot of part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as appraisal pressures and global rate characteristics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF significantly outperformed. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, showing selective allowance instead of broad market involvement. Regardless of weak efficiency, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of items attracting brand-new capital. This indicates that financiers were targeting specific direct exposures, while decreasing or rotating out of others.
Trading activity stayed constant, with average 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, making it possible for financiers to change positions without significant primary developments or redemptions.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic exposure focused on worldwide luxury and customer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress relating to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has impacted sentiment and rates during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local properties.
Is Your UAE Leadership Group Ready for 2026?In spite of ongoing geopolitical stress and security risks across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate resilience, maintaining positive development momentum over the last few years. While conflicts in the broader area and global economic unpredictability remain a structural restriction, GCC nations have so far restricted their impact on domestic economic efficiency through strong financial positions, policy connection, and sustained investment.
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