All Categories
Featured
Table of Contents
Inform strategy with proof: Use independent information on market confidence, development, and client demand to direct your strategic instructions. Confirm financial investment plans: Guarantee resource allowance and efforts are backed by reputable market insight. Speed up positive choices: Equip members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement rapidly and take definitive action.
Capital is tighter. And the quality of boardroom judgment will progressively identify which organisations sustain development and which fall behind. In action, Ascent Club, an exposure launchpad curating gain access to and opportunities for board- and C-level ladies, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is launching a brand-new regular monthly boardroom discussion assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and business management and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session unites board specialists to analyze the real pressures shaping board programs today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Concerns Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulative and governance expectations Innovation disturbance and cyber strength Long-term worth production 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 Managing Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.
Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is an assembling of executives contributing directly to governance, threat oversight, and tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are purposefully developing a repeating forum that surfaces board-level insight, amplifies reputable female governance voices, and broadens access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
Get the most recent insights, patterns, and strategies delivered directly to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to stay at the leading edge of what's next.
The GCC ETF market gotten in Q1 2026 in a consolidation phase, with activity staying elevated however growth slowing. Total properties held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news instead of a meaningful new capital implementation. International macro conditions set a tough backdrop.
The result was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional pattern. Oil associated assets did well for the a lot of part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Outright High-end ETF released on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. Also in Q1, 2 more Kraneshares have actually 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 made up 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Performance across the market was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs delivering positive 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 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 favorable returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East dispute and resulting energy shock have actually improved the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise faced broader macro headwinds, including a more mindful policy background in China and worldwide risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy costs. Thematic ETFs also struggled for the most part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as valuation pressures and international rate characteristics weighed on performance.
Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, showing selective allowance rather than broad market involvement. In spite of weak performance, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of items drawing in new capital.
Trading activity stayed steady, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have actually taken place in the secondary market, making it possible for financiers to adjust positions without considerable primary developments or redemptions.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic exposure concentrated on global luxury and consumer 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 final approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some development associating with 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 prices throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional assets.
In spite of ongoing geopolitical tensions and security threats across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show resilience, maintaining favorable growth momentum in recent years. While conflicts in the broader region and worldwide economic uncertainty stay a structural constraint, GCC nations have so far limited their effect on domestic financial performance through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and continual financial investment.
Latest Posts
How to Deploy Advanced Strategies for 2026
Corporate Strategy for GCC Success
Why Does Business Excellence Vital for 2026 Expansion?

