Corporate Strategy for GCC Excellence

Inform strategy with evidence: Usage independent data on market self-confidence, development, and customer need to guide your tactical instructions. Confirm investment strategies: Guarantee resource allocation and efforts are backed by credible market insight. Accelerate positive decisions: Gear up members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach contract quickly and take decisive action.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Capital is tighter. And the quality of boardroom judgment will increasingly determine which organisations sustain development and which fall behind. In action, Climb Club, a visibility launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level females, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is launching a new monthly boardroom discussion assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate leadership and who are members of Ascent Club.

Ways to Leverage GCC Intelligence for 2026 Success

This inaugural session brings together board specialists to analyze the real pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Risks and Top Priorities Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Developing regulative and governance expectations Innovation disruption and cyber durability Long-term value creation and sustainability imperatives Management decisions boards need to prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers consist of: Moderator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Managing Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is a convening of executives contributing straight to governance, danger oversight, and tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this partnership, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are intentionally creating a repeating forum that surfaces board-level insight, enhances credible female governance voices, and broadens access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.

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How to Leverage GCC Research for Success

Overall possessions held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a significant new capital deployment. Global macro conditions set a challenging background.

The GCC ETF universe consisted of 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Efficiency across the marketplace was broadly negative, with only 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decline. Overall, the information shows a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a small subset of items.

Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in specific country exposures and commodities, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were durable throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching new highs in the middle of greater oil prices, along with its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays open.

How Is Operational Excellence Vital for 2026 Expansion?

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 ongoing Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have actually improved the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.

The sector also dealt with more comprehensive macro headwinds, consisting of a more careful policy background in China and global risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy prices. Thematic ETFs likewise had a hard time for the a lot of part, especially those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as valuation pressures and worldwide rate dynamics weighed on performance.

The petrochemical ETF considerably outperformed. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and highly concentrated, reflecting selective allotment instead of broad market involvement. In spite of weak efficiency, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of items attracting new capital. This suggests that investors were targeting specific direct exposures, while minimizing or rotating out of others.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Major Developments in the 2026 Middle East Economy

Trading activity remained steady, with average 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 place in the secondary market, enabling financiers to change positions without substantial primary developments or redemptions.

In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic direct exposure focused on international high-end and customer 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 worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the conflict has actually impacted belief and prices during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local possessions.

In spite of ongoing geopolitical stress and security risks across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate resilience, preserving favorable growth momentum over the last few years. While conflicts in the larger region and international financial uncertainty remain a structural restraint, GCC nations have so far limited their effect on domestic financial efficiency through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and continual investment.