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Inform strategy with proof: Usage independent data on market self-confidence, development, and client need to assist your tactical direction. Confirm financial investment plans: Guarantee resource allotment and efforts are backed by credible market insight. Accelerate positive choices: Gear up members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement quickly and take definitive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Chance to Elevate Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Statement 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 Corridor (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program strengthens international economic ties with 26 strategic arrangements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'extremely 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 country as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Fact Sheet: President Donald J.
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This inaugural session unites board specialists to examine the real pressures shaping board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Threats and Priorities Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Developing regulatory and governance expectations Technology disturbance and cyber strength Long-term value development and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards need to prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers include: Moderator 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 purposefully developing a repeating forum that surface areas board-level insight, enhances reliable female governance voices, and broadens access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
4 March 2026 6:00 PM WAT Zoom Register to join the conversation. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the latest insights, trends, and techniques delivered directly 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 combination stage, with activity remaining elevated however growth slowing down. Overall possessions held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news instead of a meaningful new capital implementation. Global macro conditions set a challenging background.
The result was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional pattern. Oil associated possessions succeeded for the most part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Outright Luxury ETF launched on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. Also in Q1, two more Kraneshares have actually been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and are about to be authorized by the Abu Dhabi Stock Market (ADX). The GCC ETF universe consisted of 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Efficiency throughout the marketplace was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs providing favorable returns compared to 26 in decrease. In general, the information reflects a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a small subset of products.
How to Deploy Advanced Strategies for 2026Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in specific country exposures and commodities, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resilient during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching new highs amidst greater oil prices, as well as its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
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 published favorable returns for the quarter. The ongoing 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 also faced broader macro headwinds, including a more careful policy background in China and international risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy rates. Thematic ETFs likewise struggled for the most part, especially those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as assessment pressures and global rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF significantly outshined. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, reflecting selective allotment instead of broad market involvement. Regardless of weak efficiency, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of items bring in new capital. This indicates that investors were targeting particular exposures, while reducing or turning out of others.
Trading activity stayed consistent, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have actually taken location in the secondary market, allowing financiers to change positions without significant primary creations or redemptions. While recent geopolitical occasions have resulted in more financial pressure on GCC countries, the area remains resistant and well capitalized to deal with the scenario.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic exposure focused on worldwide luxury and customer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some development relating to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has actually impacted sentiment and rates throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in local properties.
Regardless of ongoing geopolitical stress and security threats across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to demonstrate resilience, preserving positive development momentum in the last few years. While disputes in the wider area and global economic unpredictability stay a structural restraint, GCC nations have up until now restricted their influence on domestic economic performance through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and continual financial investment.
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