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Notify technique with proof: Usage independent data on market self-confidence, growth, and customer need to assist your strategic direction. Validate financial investment strategies: Guarantee resource allotment and efforts are backed by trustworthy market insight. Accelerate confident decisions: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement rapidly and take decisive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Chance to Elevate Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Statement on Economic Cooperation In Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," Might 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme reinforces worldwide economic ties with 26 strategic arrangements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to a minimum of double yearly US financial investments over next years," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Reality Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are going into a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is greater. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will increasingly determine which organisations sustain development and which fall back. In response, Climb Club, a presence launchpad curating gain access to and opportunities for board- and C-level females, in cooperation with BusinessDay, is releasing a new month-to-month boardroom discussion convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate leadership and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session unites board specialists to analyze the genuine pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Threats and Priorities Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Developing regulatory and governance expectations Innovation disruption and cyber resilience Long-term worth production and sustainability imperatives Leadership decisions boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers consist of: 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 directly to governance, danger oversight, and strategic instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are deliberately producing a recurring online forum that surfaces board-level insight, magnifies reputable female governance voices, and broadens access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
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The GCC ETF market gotten in Q1 2026 in a combination phase, with activity remaining elevated but development slowing. Overall assets held broadly consistent over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful new capital implementation. International macro conditions set a tough background.
The result was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional pattern. Oil associated possessions did well for the many part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Outright Luxury ETF introduced on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. In Q1, 2 more Kraneshares have actually been authorized for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and are about to be approved by the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (ADX). The GCC ETF universe made up 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Performance across the marketplace was broadly negative, with only 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decline. Overall, the data shows a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a small subset of products.
Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in particular nation direct exposures and commodities, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were durable during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs amid greater oil costs, as well as its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays open.
Egypt provided strong efficiency in January and February. In spite 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 improved the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also dealt with broader macro headwinds, including a more mindful policy backdrop in China and international risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy rates. Thematic ETFs likewise struggled for the a lot of part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as appraisal pressures and global rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, reflecting selective allotment rather than broad market involvement. Regardless of weak performance, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of items bring in new capital.
Trading activity stayed steady, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. A lot of activity appears to have actually taken location in the secondary market, making it possible for investors to adjust positions without substantial primary creations or redemptions.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic exposure concentrated on global high-end and customer brands. 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 release in April pending a last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development associating with ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has affected sentiment and prices during the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in local possessions.
Strategic Strategy for Regional ExcellenceDespite ongoing geopolitical tensions and security threats throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to demonstrate strength, keeping favorable development momentum over the last few years. While conflicts in the broader area and international financial uncertainty stay a structural constraint, GCC nations have so far restricted their influence on domestic financial efficiency through strong financial positions, policy connection, and continual financial investment.
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