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Inform technique with proof: Usage independent information on market self-confidence, growth, and client need to guide your strategic direction. Verify investment plans: Ensure resource allowance and initiatives are backed by trustworthy market insight. Accelerate positive decisions: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement rapidly and take definitive action.
Capital is tighter. And the quality of conference room judgment will increasingly figure out which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In response, Climb Club, a visibility launchpad curating gain access to and opportunities for board- and C-level ladies, in cooperation 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 brings together board practitioners to examine the genuine pressures forming board programs today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Threats and Priorities Forming 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Developing regulative and governance expectations Technology disturbance and cyber durability Long-lasting worth creation and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Climb 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 a convening of executives contributing straight to governance, danger oversight, and strategic direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are purposefully developing a recurring forum that surfaces board-level insight, enhances 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 entered Q1 2026 in a debt consolidation phase, with activity remaining raised however growth slowing down. Total assets held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful brand-new capital implementation. Worldwide macro conditions set a tough backdrop.
The result was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional pattern. Oil associated properties did well for the many part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Outright Luxury ETF released on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. In Q1, two more Kraneshares have 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 comprised 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Performance across the market was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs providing favorable returns compared to 26 in decline. Overall, the data shows a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a little subset of items.
Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in particular country direct exposures and products, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were durable throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching new highs in the middle of greater oil rates, as well as 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 dispute and resulting energy shock have reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise faced broader macro headwinds, including a more cautious policy background in China and worldwide risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy costs. Thematic ETFs also had a hard time for the many part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth innovation, as valuation pressures and global rate characteristics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF considerably surpassed. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely focused, reflecting selective allocation instead of broad market involvement. Regardless of weak performance, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of items drawing in brand-new capital. This shows that investors were targeting specific exposures, while minimizing or turning out of others.
Trading activity remained steady, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have actually taken location in the secondary market, enabling investors to change positions without significant main productions or redemptions.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic exposure focused on global luxury and customer brands. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development relating to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has actually impacted sentiment and rates throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local possessions.
Long-Term Regional Industrial Growth Patterns in 2026In spite of continuous geopolitical stress and security threats throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show resilience, preserving positive development momentum over the last few years. While disputes in the larger area and international economic uncertainty remain a structural restraint, GCC countries have so far restricted their influence on domestic economic performance through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and continual investment.
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