All Categories
Featured
Table of Contents
Inform method with evidence: Usage independent information on market confidence, development, and customer need to assist your tactical direction. Confirm investment strategies: Make sure resource allotment and initiatives are backed by credible market insight. Speed up confident decisions: Gear up members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement rapidly 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 reaction, Climb Club, a visibility launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level females, in partnership with BusinessDay, is introducing a brand-new month-to-month 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 Ascent Club.
This inaugural session unites board specialists to analyze the real pressures forming board programs today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Priorities Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulatory and governance expectations Technology disturbance and cyber resilience Long-lasting value production and sustainability imperatives Management decisions boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers consist of: Moderator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Handling Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.

Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is a convening of executives contributing directly to governance, danger oversight, and strategic direction within their organisations. Through this partnership, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are deliberately developing a recurring forum that surface areas board-level insight, amplifies reputable female governance voices, and broadens access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
Get the most recent insights, trends, and techniques provided straight to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the leading edge of what's next.
Total properties held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a significant new capital release. Global macro conditions set a tough background.
The GCC ETF universe made up 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Performance throughout the marketplace 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 focused in a small subset of products.
Key Tips for Operational Excellence in the GCCEfficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in particular nation direct exposures and products, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations 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 higher oil prices, along with its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
Egypt provided strong efficiency in January and February. In spite of a market pullback in March due to the war, both Egypt's market and its ETFs still posted favorable returns for the quarter. The continuous Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also dealt with more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more mindful policy background in China and global risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and higher energy rates. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the a lot of part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as evaluation pressures and worldwide rate dynamics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF significantly outshined. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, reflecting selective allowance instead of broad market participation. Despite weak efficiency, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of products drawing in brand-new capital. This shows that financiers were targeting particular direct exposures, while lowering or turning out of others.

Trading activity stayed stable, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. Most activity appears to have actually taken location in the secondary market, making it possible for financiers to adjust positions without considerable main developments or redemptions.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic direct exposure concentrated on worldwide luxury and customer brand names. Momentum continued into April with the approval of KraneShares AGIX and KWIN ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX. These funds are anticipated to release in April pending a final approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress relating to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has actually affected sentiment and costs during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local possessions.
Despite continuous geopolitical stress and security threats across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate durability, maintaining positive development momentum in the last few years. While conflicts in the wider region and global economic uncertainty remain a structural constraint, GCC countries have so far limited their impact on domestic economic performance through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and continual investment.
Latest Posts

Advanced Strategy for Middle East Excellence

Can the GCC Lead Industrial Growth through 2026?

Corporate Planning for Regional Excellence