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Inform method with evidence: Usage independent information on market confidence, growth, and customer demand to direct your tactical instructions. Verify investment strategies: Make sure resource allowance and initiatives are backed by reliable market insight. Speed up positive choices: Gear up members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement quickly and take definitive action.
Capital is tighter. And the quality of boardroom judgment will significantly determine which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In response, Climb Club, a presence launchpad curating access and opportunities for board- and C-level ladies, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is releasing a new month-to-month conference room dialogue 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 brings together board practitioners to examine the real pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Threats and Priorities Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulatory and governance expectations Technology disruption and cyber resilience Long-term value creation and sustainability imperatives Leadership 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 Handling Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.
Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is an assembling of executives contributing directly to governance, risk oversight, and strategic instructions within their organisations. Through this partnership, Climb Club and BusinessDay are purposefully creating a repeating forum that surfaces board-level insight, amplifies trustworthy female governance voices, and expands access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
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Total assets 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 release. Global macro conditions set a challenging backdrop.
The outcome was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional trend. Oil related possessions succeeded for the most part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Outright Luxury ETF launched on ADX to include 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 approved 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 across the market was broadly unfavorable, with only 13 ETFs delivering favorable returns compared to 26 in decline. Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength.
Egypt provided strong efficiency in January and February. In spite of a market pullback in March due to the war, both Egypt's market and its ETFs still published favorable 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 likewise faced more comprehensive macro headwinds, consisting of a more mindful policy background in China and global risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and higher energy costs. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the most part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as appraisal pressures and worldwide rate characteristics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF considerably outperformed. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, showing selective allocation rather than broad market involvement. In spite of weak performance, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of products bring in new capital. This shows that investors were targeting specific direct exposures, while reducing or turning out of others.
Trading activity stayed stable, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. A lot of activity appears to have taken location in the secondary market, making it possible for investors to change positions without considerable primary creations or redemptions.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic direct exposure focused on international high-end and customer 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 expected to release in April pending a final approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress associating with ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has actually impacted belief and prices during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local possessions.
How Shared Services Foster Regional Company StrengthDespite ongoing geopolitical stress and security dangers throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate durability, maintaining positive growth momentum recently. While conflicts in the broader region and worldwide financial uncertainty stay a structural restraint, GCC countries have up until now limited their impact on domestic financial efficiency through strong fiscal positions, policy connection, and continual financial investment.
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