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Optimising Operational ROI through Advanced Market Research
Will Market Analytics Drive Middle East Corporate Success?
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Inform strategy with evidence: Usage independent information on market confidence, development, and customer demand to guide your strategic direction. Verify financial investment strategies: Make sure resource allotment and efforts are backed by trustworthy market insight. Speed up positive decisions: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach contract rapidly and take definitive action.

1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA in between the GCC and the UK is a Major Strategic Opportunity to Raise 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)," Might 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme strengthens worldwide financial ties with 26 tactical agreements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign free trade pact 'really soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to a minimum of double annual US investments over next years," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Truth Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are getting in a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is greater. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will significantly determine which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In response, Ascent Club, a visibility launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level females, in cooperation with BusinessDay, is releasing a brand-new month-to-month conference room dialogue convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and business leadership and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session brings together board specialists to take a look at the real pressures shaping board programs today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Risks and Priorities Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulatory and governance expectations Innovation interruption and cyber strength Long-lasting value production and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent 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, risk oversight, and strategic direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are deliberately creating a recurring online forum that surface areas board-level insight, magnifies trustworthy female governance voices, and expands access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
4 March 2026 6:00 PM WAT Zoom Register to join the conversation. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the newest insights, trends, and methods provided straight to your inbox. Sign up with Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the forefront of what's next.
The GCC ETF market entered Q1 2026 in a debt consolidation stage, with activity staying elevated however development slowing down. Total properties held broadly steady over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news instead of a meaningful brand-new capital deployment. Worldwide macro conditions set a challenging background.
The outcome was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional pattern. Oil associated properties did well for the a lot of part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Outright High-end ETF released on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. In Q1, two 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 consisted of 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Performance throughout the market was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs delivering positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength.
Egypt provided 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 posted positive returns for the quarter. The continuous Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise dealt with wider macro headwinds, including a more mindful policy background in China and worldwide risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy costs. Thematic ETFs also struggled for the many 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, reflecting selective allocation rather than broad market participation. Regardless of weak performance, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of products attracting brand-new capital.

Trading activity stayed steady, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. Many activity appears to have taken location in the secondary market, allowing investors to change positions without considerable primary productions or redemptions.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic direct exposure concentrated on international 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 anticipated to release in April pending a final approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress associating with ETFs in the GCC. We expect more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has affected belief and costs throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in local assets.
Industrial Excellence: a Key Driver for Regional GrowthRegardless of continuous geopolitical tensions and security risks throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show resilience, preserving favorable development momentum over the last few years. While disputes in the wider area and international economic unpredictability stay a structural restriction, GCC nations have actually so far limited their influence on domestic financial performance through strong fiscal positions, policy connection, and continual financial investment.
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