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Notify strategy with proof: Use independent information on market self-confidence, development, and customer demand to guide your strategic direction. Verify financial investment plans: Guarantee resource allotment and efforts are backed by reputable market insight. Accelerate confident choices: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement quickly and take decisive action.

1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA in between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Chance to Elevate Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Declaration on Economic Cooperation In Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," Might 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Passage (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program enhances worldwide financial ties with 26 strategic contracts," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'extremely quickly'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to at least double yearly US investments over next decade," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Truth Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are getting in a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is greater. Danger is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will progressively identify which organisations sustain development and which fall back. In action, Climb Club, an exposure launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level ladies, in partnership with BusinessDay, is launching a new regular monthly boardroom dialogue assembling 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 combines board specialists to analyze the real pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Top Priorities Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulatory and governance expectations Innovation disturbance and cyber durability Long-lasting value development and sustainability imperatives Management decisions boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers include: 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 tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are intentionally creating a repeating forum that surfaces board-level insight, amplifies trustworthy female governance voices, and expands access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
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The GCC ETF market gotten in Q1 2026 in a combination phase, with activity staying raised however development slowing. Total properties held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a significant new capital deployment. Worldwide macro conditions set a challenging backdrop.
The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency across the market was broadly unfavorable, with only 13 ETFs providing favorable 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 delivered strong performance in January and February. Despite a market pullback in March due to the war, both Egypt's market and its ETFs still posted positive returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have actually improved the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise faced more comprehensive macro headwinds, consisting of a more careful policy backdrop in China and global risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy rates. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the a lot of part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as appraisal pressures and worldwide rate characteristics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF significantly outshined. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, showing selective allotment instead of broad market involvement. In spite of weak performance, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of products attracting new capital. This shows that financiers were targeting specific exposures, while reducing or turning out of others.
Trading activity stayed stable, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. A lot of activity appears to have actually occurred in the secondary market, enabling financiers to change positions without considerable main productions or redemptions. While recent geopolitical occasions have actually led to more financial pressure on GCC countries, the area remains resilient and well capitalized to deal with the circumstance.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic exposure focused on worldwide high-end and customer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development relating to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the conflict has impacted sentiment and costs during the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in local possessions.
Regardless of ongoing geopolitical tensions and security threats throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to demonstrate resilience, maintaining favorable development momentum in the last few years. While conflicts in the broader area and international economic unpredictability remain a structural restraint, GCC countries have up until now restricted their effect on domestic financial efficiency through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and continual investment.
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