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Inform strategy with proof: Usage independent information on market self-confidence, growth, and customer demand to assist your tactical instructions. Validate financial investment strategies: Make sure resource allowance and initiatives are backed by reliable market insight. Accelerate positive choices: Equip members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement quickly and take decisive action.
Capital is tighter. And the quality of conference room judgment will increasingly determine which organisations sustain development and which fall behind. In action, Climb Club, a visibility launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level females, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is releasing a brand-new monthly conference room dialogue convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate management and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session unites board professionals to analyze the real pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Threats and Concerns Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulative and governance expectations Technology disturbance and cyber durability Long-term worth creation and sustainability imperatives Leadership choices boards must prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers include: 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 straight to governance, threat oversight, and tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are deliberately developing a recurring forum that surfaces board-level insight, enhances credible female governance voices, and expands access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
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Overall possessions held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful brand-new capital deployment. Global macro conditions set a difficult background.
The result was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional trend. Oil associated properties did well for the many part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Outright Luxury ETF introduced on ADX to add 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 Exchange (ADX). The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency across the market was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs delivering favorable returns compared to 26 in decline. Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength.
Egypt provided strong performance 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 dispute and resulting energy shock have actually improved the outlook for emerging market equities 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 worldwide risk-off sentiment 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 international rate dynamics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF significantly outperformed. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely focused, reflecting selective allowance instead of broad market involvement. In spite of weak efficiency, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of items attracting brand-new capital. This suggests that financiers were targeting specific exposures, while lowering or turning out of others.
Trading activity remained consistent, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. Most activity appears to have actually occurred in the secondary market, enabling investors to adjust positions without considerable main developments or redemptions. While current geopolitical occasions have actually led to more monetary pressure on GCC nations, the region stays resistant and well capitalized to deal with the scenario.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic direct exposure focused on global luxury and customer brands. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has impacted belief and rates throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional possessions.
Driving Development Through Centralized Gulf Shared Service ModelsIn spite of continuous geopolitical tensions and security dangers across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show resilience, keeping favorable development momentum in recent years. While disputes in the wider region and worldwide economic uncertainty stay a structural constraint, GCC countries have actually up until now limited their impact on domestic financial efficiency through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and sustained financial investment.
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