All Categories
Featured
Table of Contents
Inform method with evidence: Usage independent data on market confidence, development, and customer need to direct your tactical instructions. Verify financial investment strategies: Guarantee resource allowance and efforts are backed by reliable market insight. Speed up confident decisions: Equip members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach contract rapidly 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 action, Climb Club, an exposure launchpad curating access and opportunities for board- and C-level females, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is introducing a new month-to-month conference room discussion convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and business management and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session brings together board practitioners to examine the genuine pressures shaping board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Risks and Concerns Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulative and governance expectations Technology disruption and cyber durability Long-lasting worth creation and sustainability imperatives Leadership choices boards must prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent 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 an assembling of executives contributing straight to governance, risk oversight, and strategic direction within their organisations. Through this partnership, Climb Club and BusinessDay are intentionally producing a recurring online forum that surface areas board-level insight, magnifies trustworthy female governance voices, and expands access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
Get the newest insights, trends, and methods provided straight to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the leading edge of what's next.
Total possessions held broadly consistent over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a significant new capital implementation. International macro conditions set a difficult backdrop.
The result was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional pattern. Oil related assets succeeded for the most part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Absolute Luxury ETF launched on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. Likewise in Q1, 2 more Kraneshares have been authorized for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and will be approved by the Abu Dhabi Stock Market (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 negative, with only 13 ETFs delivering positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength.
Egypt delivered strong efficiency 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 reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise faced wider macro headwinds, consisting of a more cautious policy background in China and global risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy costs. Thematic ETFs likewise had a hard time for the many part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as assessment pressures and international rate dynamics weighed on performance.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely focused, showing selective allocation rather than broad market involvement. Regardless of weak efficiency, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of items bring in new capital.
Trading activity remained steady, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. Many activity appears to have taken place in the secondary market, making it possible for financiers to adjust positions without considerable primary productions or redemptions.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, including a specific niche thematic exposure focused on worldwide luxury and customer brands. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has actually affected sentiment and prices during the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in local properties.
Despite ongoing geopolitical stress and security risks throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to demonstrate durability, keeping positive growth momentum recently. While disputes in the broader area and global economic uncertainty remain a structural restraint, GCC nations have actually so far restricted their impact on domestic financial performance through strong fiscal positions, policy connection, and continual financial investment.
Latest Posts
Key Findings From 2026 GCC Market Research Reports
Sustainable Dubai Industrial Growth Patterns for 2026
Achieving Process Excellence in Dubai's Industrial Sector

