All Categories
Featured
Optimising Operational ROI through Advanced Market Research
Will Market Analytics Drive Middle East Corporate Success?
Table of Contents
Inform method with evidence: Usage independent information on market self-confidence, growth, and client need to direct your tactical instructions. Verify financial investment plans: Make sure resource allowance and efforts are backed by trustworthy market insight. Speed up confident choices: Gear up members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach contract rapidly 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 Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," May 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Passage (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme strengthens global economic ties with 26 tactical contracts," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign complimentary trade pact 'extremely soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to at least double yearly United States financial investments over next decade," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Reality Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are getting in a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Scrutiny is higher. Risk is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will significantly determine which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In action, Ascent Club, an exposure launchpad curating gain access to and opportunities for board- and C-level women, in partnership with BusinessDay, is launching a new monthly conference room dialogue convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and business leadership and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session unites board practitioners to take a look at the real pressures shaping board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Threats and Concerns Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulatory and governance expectations Technology interruption and cyber resilience Long-lasting worth development and sustainability imperatives Leadership decisions boards need to prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers include: Mediator 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 straight to governance, threat oversight, and tactical direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are purposefully developing a repeating forum that surface areas board-level insight, enhances trustworthy female governance voices, and expands access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
Get the most current insights, patterns, and methods delivered directly to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the forefront of what's next.
Overall properties held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful brand-new capital implementation. International macro conditions set a tough backdrop.
The result was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional pattern. Oil related possessions did well for the many part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Outright High-end ETF introduced on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. Likewise in Q1, 2 more Kraneshares have actually been authorized for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and are about to 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). Performance throughout the market was broadly negative, with only 13 ETFs providing favorable returns compared to 26 in decline. Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength.
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 improved the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise dealt with more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more careful policy backdrop in China and international risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy costs. Thematic ETFs likewise struggled for the a lot of part, especially those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as appraisal pressures and international rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF significantly surpassed. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, reflecting selective allotment instead of broad market involvement. Despite weak performance, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of products bring in new capital. This shows that investors were targeting specific exposures, while minimizing or turning out of others.

Trading activity remained constant, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have occurred in the secondary market, making it possible for investors to change positions without considerable primary developments or redemptions. While current geopolitical events have led to more monetary pressure on GCC countries, the region stays resistant and well capitalized to deal with the scenario.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic exposure focused on global high-end 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 expected to launch in April pending a last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development associating with ETFs in the GCC. We expect more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has actually impacted belief and costs throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local possessions.
Mastering Regional Corporate Frameworks for Scalable SuccessIn spite of continuous geopolitical stress and security dangers throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show strength, keeping positive development momentum over the last few years. While conflicts in the larger area and international financial unpredictability stay a structural restraint, GCC nations have actually so far limited their influence on domestic financial efficiency through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and sustained financial investment.
Latest Posts
Why Does Business Excellence Vital for Future Growth?
Optimising Operational ROI through Advanced Market Research

Ways to Enhance GCC Corporate Strategy