Key Shifts in the Future GCC Economy

Notify strategy with evidence: Use independent information on market self-confidence, growth, and customer demand to direct your tactical direction. Verify financial investment strategies: Make sure resource allotment and initiatives are backed by trustworthy market insight. Speed up positive decisions: Gear up members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement quickly and take definitive action.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Major Strategic Chance to Elevate Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Declaration on Economic Cooperation Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," May 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme reinforces international economic ties with 26 tactical contracts," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign totally free trade pact 'extremely quickly'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to a minimum of double yearly United States financial investments over next years," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Fact Sheet: President Donald J.

Boards across Africa are entering a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is higher. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will progressively figure out which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In response, Ascent Club, a visibility launchpad curating gain access to and opportunities for board- and C-level women, in partnership with BusinessDay, is releasing a new regular monthly conference room dialogue convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and business management and who are members of Climb Club.

Ways to Leverage GCC Research for 2026 Growth

This inaugural session unites board practitioners to take a look at the real pressures shaping board programs today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Risks and Priorities Forming 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulative and governance expectations Innovation disruption and cyber strength Long-term value development and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards need to prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers consist of: Mediator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Handling Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is a convening of executives contributing directly to governance, danger oversight, and tactical direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are purposefully developing a repeating online forum that surface areas board-level insight, amplifies trustworthy female governance voices, and broadens access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.

4 March 2026 6:00 PM WAT Zoom Register to sign up with the discussion. #InsideTheBoardroom #ExecutiveLeadership Registration Link: . Get the latest insights, patterns, and techniques provided straight to your inbox. Sign up with Everest Group's newsletter to remain at the leading edge of what's next.

How to Leverage GCC Research for Success

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 meaningful new capital release. Worldwide macro conditions set a tough backdrop.

The GCC ETF universe made up 39 ETFs with an overall 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 decrease. Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength.

How Does Business Excellence Essential for 2026 Growth?

Egypt delivered strong performance in January and February. Regardless of a market pullback in March due to the war, both Egypt's market and its ETFs still posted positive returns for the quarter. The continuous Middle East dispute and resulting energy shock have actually reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.

The sector also dealt with wider macro headwinds, consisting of a more mindful policy background in China and worldwide risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy rates. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the many part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as valuation pressures and global rate dynamics weighed on performance.

The petrochemical ETF considerably surpassed. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly concentrated, reflecting selective allowance 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 drawing in brand-new capital. This shows that financiers were targeting particular exposures, while lowering or rotating out of others.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Strategic Strategy for Regional Leadership

Trading activity remained steady, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. Most activity appears to have actually taken location in the secondary market, making it possible for financiers to change positions without considerable primary productions or redemptions. While current geopolitical events have led to more financial pressure on GCC countries, the region stays resistant and well capitalized to deal with the circumstance.

In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic exposure focused on worldwide luxury and consumer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.

Q1 2026 showed some development connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has impacted belief and costs during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local assets.

In spite of ongoing geopolitical stress and security threats throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show durability, maintaining favorable growth momentum in current years. While conflicts in the broader region and global economic unpredictability stay a structural restriction, GCC countries have up until now limited their effect on domestic economic performance through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and sustained financial investment.