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Inform method with evidence: Usage independent information on market self-confidence, growth, and customer demand to assist your strategic instructions. Confirm investment strategies: Ensure resource allocation and efforts are backed by trustworthy market insight. Speed up confident choices: Gear up members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach contract quickly and take decisive action.
Capital is tighter. And the quality of boardroom judgment will progressively determine which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In action, Climb Club, an exposure launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level women, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is launching a new regular monthly conference room discussion assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and corporate leadership and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session brings together board specialists to analyze the genuine pressures forming board programs today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Risks and Top Priorities Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulatory and governance expectations Technology disturbance and cyber durability Long-term value development and sustainability imperatives Management decisions boards must 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 straight to governance, threat oversight, and tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this partnership, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are purposefully producing a repeating online forum that surface areas board-level insight, magnifies 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 discussion. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the most recent insights, trends, and methods provided directly to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the forefront of what's next.
Total assets held broadly steady over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful new capital release. Global macro conditions set a tough backdrop.
The result was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional pattern. Oil related properties succeeded for the many part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Absolute Luxury ETF introduced on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. In Q1, 2 more Kraneshares have actually been authorized 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 comprised 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency throughout the marketplace was broadly negative, with only 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. Overall, the information reflects a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a little subset of items.
Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in particular country exposures and products, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resistant during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs amid greater oil prices, as well as its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
Egypt delivered strong efficiency in January and February. In spite 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 continuous Middle East dispute and resulting energy shock have reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also faced wider macro headwinds, consisting of a more mindful policy background in China and international risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and higher energy costs. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the most part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth innovation, as assessment pressures and international rate characteristics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF substantially surpassed. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, showing selective allocation instead of broad market participation. Regardless of weak performance, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of items attracting new capital. This suggests that financiers were targeting specific exposures, while lowering or turning out of others.
Trading activity stayed consistent, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have taken location in the secondary market, allowing financiers to adjust positions without substantial primary developments or redemptions.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic exposure focused on worldwide high-end and consumer brands. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some progress connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the conflict has actually affected belief and rates during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in regional possessions.
Key Steps for Operational Excellence in DubaiRegardless of continuous geopolitical stress and security risks throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show strength, keeping positive growth momentum in the last few years. While disputes in the larger area and international financial uncertainty remain a structural constraint, GCC countries have up until now restricted their effect on domestic economic efficiency through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and continual financial investment.
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