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Inform strategy with evidence: Use independent information on market self-confidence, development, and customer need to direct your tactical instructions. Verify financial investment strategies: Ensure resource allocation and efforts are backed by trustworthy market insight. Speed up positive choices: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement rapidly and take decisive 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)," Might 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program strengthens worldwide economic ties with 26 strategic arrangements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign complimentary trade pact 'really soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to a minimum of double annual US financial investments over next years," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Reality Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are entering a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is greater. Risk is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will increasingly figure out which organisations sustain growth and which fall back. In reaction, Ascent Club, an exposure launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level females, in cooperation with BusinessDay, is releasing a new month-to-month boardroom discussion assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate management and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session unites board professionals to examine the real pressures forming board programs today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Top Priorities Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Developing regulatory and governance expectations Technology disturbance and cyber resilience Long-lasting worth development and sustainability imperatives Leadership choices boards need to prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers include: 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, threat oversight, and strategic instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are purposefully producing a recurring forum that surface areas board-level insight, enhances credible 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 combination stage, with activity staying raised however growth slowing. Total assets held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news instead of a meaningful brand-new capital deployment. Worldwide macro conditions set a difficult backdrop.
The outcome was a quarter specified 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 Absolute High-end ETF launched 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 will be authorized by the Abu Dhabi Stock Market (ADX). The GCC ETF universe made up 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Performance across the market was broadly negative, with only 13 ETFs delivering favorable returns compared to 26 in decrease. In general, the data reflects a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a little subset of items.
Bridging Strategy and Business Excellence Across the GulfEfficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in particular nation direct exposures and commodities, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resistant throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching new highs amidst higher oil prices, as well as its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays open.
Egypt delivered strong efficiency in January and February. Despite a market pullback in March due to the war, both Egypt's market and its ETFs still posted favorable returns for the quarter. The continuous Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also faced more comprehensive macro headwinds, consisting of a more mindful policy backdrop in China and international risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy costs. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the most part, especially those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as assessment pressures and global rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF significantly outshined. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely focused, reflecting selective allocation rather than broad market participation. In spite of weak efficiency, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of items drawing in new capital. This indicates that investors were targeting specific exposures, while decreasing or rotating out of others.
Trading activity stayed consistent, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. Many activity appears to have taken location in the secondary market, allowing financiers to change positions without substantial main productions or redemptions. While current geopolitical events have led to more monetary pressure on GCC countries, the region remains durable and well capitalized to deal with the situation.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a specific niche thematic exposure focused on international high-end and consumer brands. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some progress connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the conflict has impacted belief and rates during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local possessions.
Regardless of ongoing geopolitical stress and security dangers throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show strength, keeping favorable development momentum in recent years. While conflicts in the wider region and international financial unpredictability stay a structural restraint, GCC nations have up until now restricted their effect on domestic economic performance through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and sustained investment.
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