All Categories
Featured
Table of Contents
Notify method with proof: Use independent information on market confidence, growth, and customer need to assist your strategic instructions. Confirm financial investment plans: Guarantee resource allotment and initiatives are backed by credible market insight. Speed up positive choices: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement rapidly and take definitive action.

1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Opportunity to Raise 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)," May 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Passage (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme strengthens international economic 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 prepares to at least double yearly US investments over next years," Might 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 entering a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Scrutiny is greater. Danger is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will increasingly identify which organisations sustain development and which fall back. In response, Climb Club, an exposure launchpad curating access and opportunities for board- and C-level ladies, 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 management and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session brings together board practitioners to analyze the genuine pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Top Priorities Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulatory and governance expectations Technology interruption and cyber durability Long-lasting value production and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards must prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers consist of: Mediator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Managing 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, Climb Club and BusinessDay are intentionally producing a recurring forum that surfaces board-level insight, amplifies credible female governance voices, and broadens access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
Get the current insights, trends, and methods provided straight to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the leading edge of what's next.
The GCC ETF market gone into Q1 2026 in a debt consolidation stage, with activity remaining raised however growth slowing down. Total properties held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news instead of a significant brand-new capital release. Worldwide macro conditions set a challenging backdrop.
The GCC ETF universe made up 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Performance across the marketplace was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decline. In general, the data shows a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a small subset of items.
Efficiency 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 direct exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs amidst greater oil rates, as well as its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays open.
Egypt provided strong performance in January and February. In spite 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 ongoing Middle East dispute and resulting energy shock have improved the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also faced broader macro headwinds, consisting of a more careful policy background in China and international risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy costs. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the most part, especially those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as appraisal pressures and international rate dynamics weighed on performance.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, showing selective allotment rather than broad market involvement. Despite weak performance, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of products attracting new capital.

Trading activity stayed consistent, with average 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 location in the secondary market, making it possible for financiers to adjust positions without considerable main creations or redemptions. While current geopolitical events have led to more monetary pressure on GCC countries, the area stays resistant and well capitalized to handle the circumstance.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a specific niche thematic direct exposure focused on international luxury and customer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress associating with ETFs in the GCC. We expect more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the conflict has affected sentiment and prices during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local assets.
Regardless of ongoing geopolitical tensions and security threats across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to demonstrate resilience, preserving positive growth momentum in the last few years. While disputes in the larger region and international financial uncertainty stay a structural restraint, GCC countries have up until now restricted their impact on domestic economic efficiency through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and continual 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?