All Categories
Featured
Table of Contents
Inform method with evidence: Usage independent information on market self-confidence, development, and customer demand to guide your strategic instructions. Verify investment plans: Ensure resource allowance and efforts are backed by credible market insight. Accelerate positive decisions: Gear up members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement rapidly and take decisive action.

Capital is tighter. And the quality of boardroom judgment will significantly determine which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In reaction, Climb Club, a visibility launchpad curating gain access to and opportunities for board- and C-level ladies, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is releasing a new regular monthly conference room discussion assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest 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 programs today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Threats and Priorities Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulative and governance expectations Technology disruption and cyber durability Long-lasting worth development and sustainability imperatives Leadership decisions boards need to prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers include: Moderator 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, Climb Club and BusinessDay are intentionally developing a repeating online forum that surfaces board-level insight, enhances reliable female governance voices, and expands access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
Get the current insights, trends, and methods delivered directly to your inbox. Join Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the forefront of what's next.
Overall assets held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a significant brand-new capital deployment. Worldwide macro conditions set a tough background.
The result was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional trend. Oil associated properties succeeded for the many part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Absolute High-end ETF introduced on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. In Q1, two more Kraneshares have actually been approved 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 comprised 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 favorable returns compared to 26 in decline. Overall, the data reflects a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a little subset of products.
Ways to Leverage GCC Research for 2026 SuccessEfficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in particular country exposures and products, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations 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 in the middle of greater oil rates, along with its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
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 published positive returns for the quarter. The continuous Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have improved the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise faced broader macro headwinds, consisting of a more cautious policy background in China and worldwide risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy prices. Thematic ETFs also struggled for the many part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as valuation pressures and global rate characteristics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF considerably exceeded. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, reflecting selective allocation rather than broad market participation. Regardless of weak performance, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of items attracting brand-new capital. This shows that investors were targeting particular direct exposures, while minimizing or rotating out of others.

Trading activity stayed consistent, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. Most activity appears to have taken place in the secondary market, allowing financiers to adjust positions without substantial primary productions or redemptions. While recent geopolitical events have led to more financial pressure on GCC nations, the region stays resilient and well capitalized to handle the circumstance.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic direct exposure focused on global high-end and customer 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 anticipated to launch in April pending a final approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development associating with ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has impacted sentiment and prices during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in regional possessions.
Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and security dangers throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show durability, preserving favorable growth momentum over the last few years. While conflicts in the larger region and worldwide financial unpredictability stay a structural restraint, GCC nations have so far restricted their effect on domestic economic efficiency through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and continual financial investment.
Latest Posts

How to Utilize Market Intelligence for Growth

How to Deploy Advanced Strategies in 2026

Can the GCC Sustain Industrial Growth during 2026?