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Inform strategy with proof: Use independent information on market confidence, growth, and customer demand to direct your strategic instructions. Confirm investment plans: Guarantee resource allowance and initiatives are backed by reputable market insight. Accelerate positive choices: Gear up members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement quickly and take decisive action.

Capital is tighter. And the quality of boardroom judgment will increasingly figure out which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In reaction, Climb Club, a visibility launchpad curating access and opportunities for board- and C-level ladies, in partnership with BusinessDay, is launching a new monthly boardroom dialogue assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate leadership and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session unites board practitioners to examine the genuine pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Risks and Priorities Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulative and governance expectations Innovation disturbance and cyber resilience Long-term worth development and sustainability imperatives Management decisions boards must prioritise heading into 2026 Climb 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, threat oversight, and tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this partnership, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are intentionally creating a recurring forum that surface areas board-level insight, magnifies credible 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 most recent insights, patterns, and strategies 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 remaining raised however growth slowing down. Total assets held broadly steady over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news instead of a meaningful new capital release. International macro conditions set a difficult background.
The outcome was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional pattern. Oil associated properties succeeded for the most part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Absolute High-end ETF released on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. Likewise in Q1, two more Kraneshares have been authorized for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and are about to be approved by the Abu Dhabi Stock Market (ADX). The GCC ETF universe consisted of 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Performance throughout the market was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs delivering favorable returns compared to 26 in decline. Overall, the data shows a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a small subset of items.
Can Dubai Lead Industrial Growth during 2026?Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in particular country direct exposures and products, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resistant during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching new highs amidst greater oil prices, along with its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays open.
Egypt delivered 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 posted positive returns for the quarter. The continuous Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have actually reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also dealt with more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more cautious policy backdrop in China and international risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and higher energy rates. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the many part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth innovation, as appraisal pressures and global rate characteristics weighed on performance.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly concentrated, reflecting selective allocation rather than broad market participation. Despite weak efficiency, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of products bring in brand-new capital.
Trading activity stayed stable, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have occurred in the secondary market, enabling financiers to change positions without substantial main developments or redemptions. While recent geopolitical occasions have resulted in more monetary pressure on GCC nations, the region stays resistant and well capitalized to handle the circumstance.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic direct exposure focused on worldwide luxury and consumer brands. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some development associating with ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has impacted belief and rates throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local assets.
Regardless of continuous geopolitical stress and security dangers across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show strength, keeping favorable development momentum in current years. While conflicts in the larger area and international economic uncertainty remain a structural constraint, GCC nations have so far limited their effect on domestic economic efficiency through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and sustained investment.
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