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Notify method with proof: Usage independent information on market confidence, growth, and customer demand to assist your tactical instructions. Confirm financial investment strategies: Ensure resource allowance and initiatives are backed by reliable market insight. Speed up confident decisions: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach contract rapidly and take decisive 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 Countries (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," Might 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Passage (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program reinforces worldwide financial ties with 26 strategic contracts," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'very soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to a minimum of double annual US financial investments over next decade," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Truth Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are getting in a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Scrutiny is higher. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will increasingly determine which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In response, Ascent Club, a presence launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level women, in cooperation with BusinessDay, is introducing a new monthly boardroom discussion assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and corporate leadership and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session unites board specialists to examine the genuine pressures forming board programs today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Risks and Top Priorities Forming 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Developing regulatory and governance expectations Technology disruption and cyber durability Long-term value production and sustainability imperatives Management decisions boards must 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, Climb Club and BusinessDay are purposefully creating a repeating online forum that surfaces board-level insight, enhances reliable female governance voices, and expands access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
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The GCC ETF market entered Q1 2026 in a debt consolidation stage, with activity remaining raised however development slowing down. Total properties held broadly steady over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful brand-new capital implementation. Global macro conditions set a tough backdrop.
The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency across the marketplace was broadly negative, with only 13 ETFs delivering favorable returns compared to 26 in decrease. Overall, the data shows a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a small subset of products.
The Advancement of Regional GBS Designs in the GCCPerformance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in specific country direct exposures and commodities, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resistant during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching new highs amid greater oil rates, along with its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays open.
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 continuous Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have improved the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also dealt with wider macro headwinds, consisting of a more careful policy backdrop in China and global risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy rates. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the many part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as appraisal pressures and worldwide rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF considerably surpassed. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, reflecting selective allocation instead of broad market involvement. In spite of weak efficiency, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of items attracting brand-new capital. This indicates that investors were targeting specific direct exposures, while minimizing or turning out of others.
Trading activity stayed steady, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have occurred in the secondary market, making it possible for investors to adjust positions without substantial primary productions or redemptions. While current geopolitical events have resulted in more monetary pressure on GCC nations, the region remains resistant and well capitalized to deal with the scenario.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic direct exposure focused 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 anticipated to introduce in April pending a last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has impacted belief and costs during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local assets.
The Advancement of Regional GBS Designs in the GCCDespite ongoing geopolitical stress and security risks throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate resilience, preserving favorable growth momentum in the last few years. While conflicts in the wider area and international financial unpredictability remain a structural restraint, GCC nations have actually so far restricted their effect on domestic economic performance through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and continual investment.
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