All Categories
Featured
Table of Contents
Notify strategy with proof: Use independent information on market confidence, development, and customer need to guide your strategic direction. Validate financial investment strategies: Guarantee resource allowance and efforts are backed by credible market insight. Speed up positive choices: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach contract rapidly and take definitive action.

1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Major Strategic Chance to Elevate Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Declaration on Economic Cooperation 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 program enhances global financial ties with 26 tactical agreements," 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 a minimum of double annual United States financial investments over next decade," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Fact Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are entering a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is higher. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will significantly determine which organisations sustain development and which fall back. In response, Climb Club, an exposure launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level women, in partnership with BusinessDay, is launching a brand-new regular monthly conference room dialogue convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest 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 BOARDROOM: The Strategic Threats and Priorities Forming 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulative and governance expectations Technology disruption and cyber resilience Long-lasting value creation and sustainability imperatives Leadership decisions boards must prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers consist of: Moderator 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, threat oversight, and strategic direction within their organisations. Through this partnership, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are purposefully producing a recurring online forum that surfaces board-level insight, magnifies reliable female governance voices, and broadens access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
4 March 2026 6:00 PM WAT Zoom Register to sign up with the conversation. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the current insights, patterns, and techniques provided directly to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to stay at the forefront of what's next.
The GCC ETF market gone into Q1 2026 in a debt consolidation stage, with activity staying raised but growth slowing. Total possessions held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful new capital implementation. Worldwide macro conditions set a challenging background.
The result was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional trend. Oil associated possessions did well for the many part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Outright Luxury ETF released on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. In Q1, 2 more Kraneshares have been authorized for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and will be authorized by the Abu Dhabi Stock Market (ADX). The GCC ETF universe consisted of 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency throughout the market was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs delivering 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 published positive returns for the quarter. The continuous Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have actually improved the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise dealt with more comprehensive macro headwinds, consisting of a more careful policy backdrop in China and global risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy costs. Thematic ETFs likewise had a hard time for the many part, especially those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as appraisal pressures and global rate characteristics weighed on performance.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly concentrated, reflecting selective allotment rather than broad market involvement. In spite of weak performance, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of items attracting brand-new capital.

Trading activity stayed consistent, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. A lot of activity appears to have actually taken place in the secondary market, allowing financiers to adjust positions without significant main developments or redemptions.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic direct exposure concentrated on global high-end and consumer brands. Momentum continued into April with the approval of KraneShares AGIX and KWIN ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX. These funds are expected to introduce in April pending a final approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress associating with ETFs in the GCC. We expect more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the conflict has affected belief and rates during the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in local assets.
Driving Dubai Industrial Expansion through Strategic ExcellenceDespite continuous geopolitical tensions and security risks across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate durability, preserving positive growth momentum in current years. While conflicts in the wider area and worldwide financial unpredictability stay a structural restriction, GCC nations have so far restricted their effect on domestic economic performance through strong fiscal positions, policy connection, and sustained financial investment.
Latest Posts
Ways to Utilize Market Research for 2026 Success

Can Market Analytics Drive Dubai Corporate Success?

Will Dubai Lead Industrial Growth through 2026?