All Categories
Featured
Table of Contents
Notify method with proof: Use independent information on market self-confidence, development, and customer demand to direct your strategic direction. Validate financial investment plans: Guarantee resource allotment and initiatives are backed by reliable market insight. Accelerate positive decisions: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach contract quickly and take decisive 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 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 Passage (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme reinforces worldwide economic ties with 26 tactical arrangements," 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 prepares to a minimum of double annual US financial investments over next decade," May 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 across Africa are entering a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Scrutiny is higher. Risk is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will increasingly identify which organisations sustain development and which fall back. In reaction, Ascent Club, a visibility launchpad curating access and opportunities for board- and C-level ladies, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is releasing a new regular monthly boardroom discussion convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and corporate management and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session brings together board specialists to analyze the genuine pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Risks and Priorities Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulatory and governance expectations Innovation disturbance and cyber strength Long-lasting value creation and sustainability imperatives Leadership choices boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers consist of: Mediator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Managing Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.
Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is a convening of executives contributing directly to governance, danger oversight, and tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this partnership, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are intentionally creating a recurring forum that surfaces board-level insight, enhances reliable 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 methods provided directly to your inbox. Sign up with Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the forefront of what's next.
Total assets held broadly consistent over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful brand-new capital implementation. International macro conditions set a tough backdrop.
The GCC ETF universe consisted of 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Efficiency throughout the marketplace was broadly unfavorable, with only 13 ETFs delivering favorable returns compared to 26 in decrease. In general, the data reflects a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a small subset of items.
The Function of Outsourcing in Achieving GCC Fiscal EfficiencyPerformance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in specific country exposures and products, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were durable during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs amid higher oil costs, along with its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays open.
Egypt provided strong performance in January and February. In spite of 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 conflict and resulting energy shock have improved the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also dealt with broader macro headwinds, consisting of a more cautious policy backdrop in China and international risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy rates. Thematic ETFs likewise had a hard time for the a lot of part, especially those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as valuation pressures and worldwide rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF substantially outperformed. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely focused, showing selective allotment rather than broad market participation. Despite weak performance, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of products attracting new capital. This shows that investors were targeting specific exposures, while minimizing or rotating out of others.
Trading activity stayed steady, 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 actually taken place in the secondary market, enabling financiers to change positions without significant main developments or redemptions.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic direct exposure focused on global luxury and customer brands. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some progress relating to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has actually impacted sentiment and costs during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local possessions.
Regardless of ongoing geopolitical stress and security threats across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show strength, maintaining positive development momentum recently. While conflicts in the wider area and international financial unpredictability stay a structural restraint, GCC nations have so far restricted their impact on domestic economic efficiency through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and continual financial investment.
Latest Posts
Leading Operational Excellence in the 2026 Economy
Will Dubai Sustain Industrial Growth through 2026?
Future-Focused Operational Models Within 2026 Markets


