All Categories
Featured
Table of Contents
Inform strategy with evidence: Usage independent information on market confidence, growth, and client need to guide your strategic direction. Verify investment plans: Guarantee resource allocation and efforts are backed by credible market insight. Accelerate confident decisions: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement quickly and take decisive action.

1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA in between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Opportunity to Elevate Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Statement on Economic Cooperation In Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," Might 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Passage (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program strengthens international financial ties with 26 strategic arrangements," 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 at least double yearly United States financial investments over next years," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Truth Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are getting in a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is greater. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will progressively figure out which organisations sustain development and which fall behind. In action, Climb Club, a presence launchpad curating access and opportunities for board- and C-level ladies, in cooperation with BusinessDay, is releasing a new month-to-month boardroom discussion assembling 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 unites board practitioners to examine the genuine pressures shaping board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Threats and Priorities Forming 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulatory and governance expectations Technology disturbance and cyber strength Long-lasting worth creation and sustainability imperatives Leadership decisions 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 directly to governance, threat oversight, and strategic instructions within their organisations. Through this partnership, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are deliberately developing a repeating forum that surface areas board-level insight, amplifies 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 most recent insights, patterns, and strategies delivered straight to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the leading edge of what's next.
The GCC ETF market gotten in Q1 2026 in a debt consolidation phase, with activity remaining elevated however growth slowing down. Total assets held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a significant new capital deployment. Worldwide macro conditions set a challenging backdrop.
The GCC ETF universe consisted of 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Performance throughout the market was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs providing 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 delivered strong efficiency in January and February. Regardless of 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 between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also faced more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more mindful policy backdrop in China and global risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy rates. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the most part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth innovation, as assessment pressures and worldwide rate dynamics weighed on performance.
Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, showing selective allotment rather than broad market involvement. In spite of weak performance, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of items bring in new capital.

Trading activity stayed stable, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have actually taken location in the secondary market, making it possible for investors to change positions without significant primary developments or redemptions. While recent geopolitical occasions have actually led to more monetary pressure on GCC countries, the area stays resilient and well capitalized to deal with the circumstance.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, including a specific niche thematic direct exposure focused on worldwide luxury and consumer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development associating with ETFs in the GCC. We expect more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has actually impacted sentiment and costs throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local possessions.
Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and security threats across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate strength, preserving favorable development momentum in the last few years. While disputes in the wider area and international economic unpredictability remain a structural restriction, GCC nations have actually up until now limited their effect on domestic financial efficiency through strong financial positions, policy connection, and continual financial investment.
Latest Posts
Middle East News: Strategic Market Trends in 2026
Emerging Future Trends Shaping the 2026 GCC Economy

The Strategic Guide to Regional Industrial Success for 2026