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Notify strategy with proof: Usage independent information on market self-confidence, growth, and customer need to assist your strategic instructions. Confirm financial investment strategies: Guarantee resource allowance and efforts are backed by reliable market insight. Accelerate confident choices: Equip members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement quickly and take definitive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Major 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 Countries (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," May 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program enhances international economic ties with 26 tactical contracts," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign free trade pact 'extremely 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 investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Truth Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are getting in a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Scrutiny is greater. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will increasingly figure out which organisations sustain development and which fall back. In reaction, Climb Club, an exposure launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level women, in partnership with BusinessDay, is introducing a new month-to-month boardroom dialogue 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 brings together board practitioners to take a look at the genuine pressures shaping board programs today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Threats and Priorities Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulative and governance expectations Innovation disruption and cyber durability Long-lasting worth production and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers include: 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 straight to governance, danger oversight, and tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are deliberately producing a recurring online forum that surfaces board-level insight, amplifies reputable female governance voices, and expands access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
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The GCC ETF market gotten in Q1 2026 in a debt consolidation stage, with activity staying raised but growth slowing. Total assets held broadly consistent over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news instead of a significant brand-new capital implementation. Worldwide macro conditions set a challenging backdrop.
The outcome was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional trend. Oil associated assets did well for the a lot of part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Outright Luxury ETF introduced on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. In Q1, 2 more Kraneshares have been approved 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 comprised 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency across the market was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs providing 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.
Egypt provided strong performance 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 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 also faced broader macro headwinds, consisting of a more mindful policy background in China and international risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical stress and higher energy rates. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the many part, especially those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as appraisal pressures and international rate characteristics weighed on efficiency.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly concentrated, reflecting selective allotment rather than broad market participation. In spite of weak efficiency, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of products attracting new capital.
Trading activity stayed 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 actually taken location in the secondary market, allowing financiers to change positions without substantial primary productions or redemptions.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic exposure focused on worldwide luxury and customer 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 anticipated to release in April pending a last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some progress relating to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has actually impacted sentiment and costs throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local properties.
The Transformation of Shared Services in a Post-Digital GCCDespite continuous geopolitical stress and security risks across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate durability, preserving positive growth momentum recently. While disputes in the broader region and international financial uncertainty stay a structural restriction, GCC countries have actually up until now limited their effect on domestic financial efficiency through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and sustained financial investment.
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