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Driving Strategic Excellence in the GCC

Published Aug 21, 26
6 min read


Inform technique with proof: Use independent data on market self-confidence, growth, and client need to guide your strategic instructions. Verify investment plans: Ensure resource allowance and efforts are backed by reputable market insight. Accelerate confident decisions: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach contract rapidly and take decisive action.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+


1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA 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 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) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme enhances international economic ties with 26 strategic agreements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'very quickly'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to at least double annual US financial investments over next years," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial 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 specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is greater. Danger is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will increasingly figure out which organisations sustain development and which fall back. In reaction, Climb Club, a visibility launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level women, in partnership with BusinessDay, is launching a new month-to-month conference room discussion convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and business leadership and who are members of Ascent Club.

Scaling Corporate Growth Across Dubai and the GCC

This inaugural session brings together board practitioners to take a look at the real pressures shaping board programs today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Concerns Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Developing regulatory and governance expectations Technology disturbance and cyber strength Long-lasting worth production and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards must prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers consist of: Moderator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Handling Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+


Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is a convening of executives contributing straight to governance, risk oversight, and strategic direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are intentionally creating a recurring online forum that surface areas board-level insight, enhances credible 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 conversation. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the latest insights, patterns, and techniques delivered straight to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the leading edge of what's next.

How Is Business Excellence Essential for 2026 Growth?

The GCC ETF market gone into Q1 2026 in a combination stage, with activity remaining elevated however growth slowing. Overall assets held broadly steady over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a response to geopolitical news instead of a meaningful brand-new capital deployment. International macro conditions set a challenging backdrop.

The result was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional trend. Oil related possessions did well for the most part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Outright Luxury ETF released 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 Market (ADX). The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency throughout the market was broadly negative, with only 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decline. Overall, the data shows a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a little subset of items.

Predicting the Next Middle East Corporate Environment

Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in specific nation direct exposures and products, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were durable during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching new highs amidst higher oil costs, as well as its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.

Essential Data From 2026 GCC Market Research Reports

Egypt provided 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 ongoing Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have actually improved the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.

The sector likewise 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 prices. Thematic ETFs also had a hard time for the a lot of part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as assessment pressures and international rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.

The petrochemical ETF significantly outshined. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, showing selective allowance instead of broad market participation. Regardless of weak efficiency, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of products attracting brand-new capital. This shows that investors were targeting specific direct exposures, while lowering or turning out of others.

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Advanced Planning for Middle East Excellence

Trading activity stayed consistent, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. A lot of activity appears to have happened in the secondary market, allowing investors to adjust positions without significant main developments or redemptions. While recent geopolitical events have led to more monetary pressure on GCC countries, the region stays resistant and well capitalized to handle the circumstance.

In January, Boreas released its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic exposure focused on international 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 impacted sentiment and prices throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local possessions.

How to Leverage Market Intelligence for 2026 Success

In spite of continuous geopolitical stress and security risks across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show resilience, maintaining favorable growth momentum in the last few years. While disputes in the wider region and global economic uncertainty 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 investment.

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