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Inform strategy with evidence: Usage independent data on market self-confidence, development, and customer demand to direct your tactical direction. Confirm financial investment strategies: Make sure resource allocation and initiatives are backed by reliable market insight. Accelerate confident choices: Gear up members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement quickly and take definitive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Major Strategic Opportunity to Raise Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Declaration on Economic Cooperation Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," Might 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Passage (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program strengthens international financial ties with 26 strategic agreements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign totally free trade pact 'really soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to a minimum of double annual US investments over next decade," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Fact Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are getting in a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is greater. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will increasingly determine which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In action, Climb Club, an exposure launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level women, in cooperation with BusinessDay, is introducing a brand-new month-to-month conference room dialogue convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and business leadership and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session combines board specialists to analyze the genuine pressures shaping board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Concerns Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulative and governance expectations Innovation interruption and cyber durability Long-lasting worth production and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers consist of: Mediator 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 straight to governance, risk oversight, and strategic instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are deliberately developing a repeating forum that surface areas board-level insight, enhances reputable female governance voices, and broadens access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
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Overall properties held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful new capital deployment. Global macro conditions set a tough background.
The outcome was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional pattern. Oil associated properties succeeded for the a lot of part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Absolute Luxury ETF launched on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. Likewise in Q1, two more Kraneshares have 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 throughout the market was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs providing 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.
Creating a Collaborative Outsourcing Ecosystem for 2026Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in specific nation exposures and commodities, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resilient throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching new highs amid greater oil rates, along with its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays open.
Egypt delivered 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 posted positive returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East dispute and resulting energy shock have reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise dealt with wider macro headwinds, consisting of a more careful policy background in China and international risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy costs. Thematic ETFs likewise struggled for the a lot of part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as valuation pressures and worldwide rate characteristics weighed on efficiency.
Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and highly concentrated, showing selective allocation rather than broad market involvement. Regardless of weak performance, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of products drawing in brand-new capital.
Trading activity stayed constant, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. A lot of activity appears to have taken place in the secondary market, enabling financiers to adjust positions without significant main developments or redemptions.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a specific niche thematic direct exposure concentrated on worldwide high-end and consumer 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 expected to release in April pending a last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some development associating with ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has affected sentiment and costs during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local possessions.
Why Riyadh Is Ending Up Being the Ultimate Middle East Service LocationIn spite of continuous geopolitical tensions and security threats throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to demonstrate strength, keeping positive growth momentum over the last few years. While disputes in the wider region and global economic unpredictability stay a structural constraint, GCC countries have so far restricted their effect on domestic financial performance through strong fiscal positions, policy connection, and sustained investment.
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