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Inform method with evidence: Use independent data on market self-confidence, development, and client demand to assist your strategic instructions. Confirm financial investment strategies: Ensure resource allotment and initiatives are backed by trustworthy market insight. Accelerate confident choices: Equip members of your executive group 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 Significant Strategic Chance to Raise 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)," May 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Passage (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program reinforces worldwide financial ties with 26 tactical agreements," 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 plans to a minimum of double annual US investments over next years," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Fact Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are entering a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is greater. Risk is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will increasingly determine which organisations sustain development and which fall behind. In response, Climb Club, an exposure launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level females, in partnership with BusinessDay, is launching a new monthly conference room discussion assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate management and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session unites board professionals to take a look at the genuine pressures shaping board programs today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Priorities Forming 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulative and governance expectations Innovation disruption and cyber strength Long-lasting value production and sustainability imperatives Leadership decisions boards need to prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent 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, danger oversight, and tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this partnership, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are intentionally producing a recurring forum that surfaces board-level insight, enhances reputable female governance voices, and expands access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
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The GCC ETF market gotten in Q1 2026 in a debt consolidation phase, with activity staying raised however growth slowing down. Overall possessions held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful brand-new capital deployment. International macro conditions set a tough backdrop.
The outcome was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional trend. Oil related properties did well for the many part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Outright High-end ETF released 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 Market (ADX). The GCC ETF universe consisted of 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Performance throughout the marketplace was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. Overall, the data reflects a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a small subset of products.
Why Does Business Excellence Crucial for Future Expansion?Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in specific country exposures and commodities, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resilient throughout 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 remains open.
Egypt provided strong performance in January and February. Despite a market pullback in March due to the war, both Egypt's market and its ETFs still published favorable 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 more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more cautious policy background in China and worldwide risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy rates. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the most part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as appraisal pressures and worldwide rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF substantially outshined. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, reflecting selective allocation instead of broad market involvement. Regardless of weak efficiency, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of products attracting new capital. This suggests that financiers were targeting particular direct exposures, while decreasing or turning out of others.
Trading activity stayed steady, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. Many activity appears to have occurred in the secondary market, enabling investors to change positions without considerable primary productions or redemptions. While current geopolitical events have actually resulted in more financial pressure on GCC nations, the area remains resistant and well capitalized to handle the situation.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a specific niche thematic exposure concentrated on global 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 final approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some progress connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has actually impacted belief and prices throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in local assets.
Despite continuous geopolitical tensions and security threats throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to demonstrate strength, maintaining favorable growth momentum in the last few years. While disputes in the larger area and international economic unpredictability remain a structural restraint, GCC nations have actually up until now restricted their influence on domestic economic efficiency through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and continual financial investment.
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