All Categories
Featured
Table of Contents
Notify technique with proof: Usage independent information on market self-confidence, growth, and client demand to direct your tactical direction. Validate financial investment strategies: Make sure resource allowance and initiatives are backed by trustworthy market insight. Accelerate positive decisions: Gear up members of your executive group 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 Major Strategic Opportunity to Elevate 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 Corridor (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program reinforces international financial ties with 26 tactical arrangements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign complimentary trade pact 'soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to at least double annual US investments over next decade," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Reality Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are going into a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is greater. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will significantly identify which organisations sustain growth and which fall back. In reaction, Ascent Club, a visibility launchpad curating gain access to and opportunities for board- and C-level females, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is launching a new regular monthly conference room dialogue convening 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 unites board practitioners to analyze the genuine pressures shaping board programs today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Risks and Top Priorities Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulatory and governance expectations Innovation interruption and cyber strength Long-term worth production and sustainability imperatives Management decisions boards must prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers include: Mediator 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, danger oversight, and tactical direction within their organisations. Through this partnership, Climb Club and BusinessDay are intentionally developing a repeating online forum that surfaces board-level insight, enhances reputable female governance voices, and expands access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
4 March 2026 6:00 PM WAT Zoom Register to join the conversation. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the current insights, patterns, and strategies provided directly to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to stay at the leading edge of what's next.
Total assets held broadly consistent over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful brand-new capital deployment. International macro conditions set a tough backdrop.
The result was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional trend. Oil related properties did well for the most part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Outright Luxury ETF introduced on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. Likewise in Q1, 2 more Kraneshares have actually been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and will be approved by the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (ADX). The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Performance throughout the marketplace was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decline. In general, the information reflects a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a little subset of items.
The Function of Outsourcing in Accomplishing GCC Fiscal EffectivenessEfficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in particular country direct exposures and products, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resistant throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching new highs in the middle of greater oil rates, as well as its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays open.
Egypt delivered 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 positive returns for the quarter. The continuous Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have actually reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise faced more comprehensive macro headwinds, consisting of a more careful policy background in China and worldwide risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy rates. Thematic ETFs also struggled for the many part, especially those connected to carbon and high-growth innovation, as evaluation pressures and global rate dynamics weighed on performance.
Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely focused, reflecting selective allowance rather than broad market involvement. Despite weak performance, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of products bring in new capital.
Trading activity remained constant, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. A lot of activity appears to have taken location in the secondary market, allowing investors to change positions without significant primary productions or redemptions.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic direct exposure focused on worldwide luxury and customer brands. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the conflict has actually affected belief and costs throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local assets.
Driving Efficiency Through Advanced GBS Designs in the Middle EastIn spite of ongoing geopolitical stress and security dangers throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate durability, preserving favorable development momentum in current years. While conflicts in the wider area and global financial unpredictability stay a structural restraint, GCC nations have up until now limited their influence on domestic economic performance through strong fiscal positions, policy connection, and sustained investment.
Latest Posts
Predicting the 2026 Middle East Business Environment
Predicting the Next Middle East Corporate Environment
Middle East Business News and Growth Realities


