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Inform strategy with evidence: Use independent data on market confidence, development, and customer need to direct your strategic direction. Validate investment plans: Ensure resource allotment and efforts are backed by reputable market insight. Speed up positive decisions: 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 Opportunity to Raise Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Declaration 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) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program enhances international economic ties with 26 strategic arrangements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign complimentary trade pact 'very quickly'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to a minimum of double yearly United States financial investments over next years," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Fact Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are getting in a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is greater. Danger is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will progressively identify which organisations sustain development and which fall back. In action, Climb Club, an exposure launchpad curating access and opportunities for board- and C-level women, in partnership with BusinessDay, is launching a new regular monthly conference room discussion assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and corporate management and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session unites board practitioners to analyze the genuine pressures forming board programs today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Threats and Top Priorities Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulatory and governance expectations Technology disturbance and cyber resilience Long-lasting worth development and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards must prioritise heading into 2026 Climb 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, risk oversight, and tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this partnership, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are deliberately developing a recurring online forum that surfaces board-level insight, enhances trustworthy female governance voices, and expands access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
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Total properties held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a significant brand-new capital implementation. Worldwide macro conditions set a tough backdrop.
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 delivering favorable returns compared to 26 in decrease. Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength.
Egypt delivered 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 also dealt with more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more cautious policy background in China and international risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and higher energy prices. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the most part, especially those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as assessment pressures and international rate characteristics weighed on performance.
Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and highly concentrated, reflecting selective allotment rather than broad market involvement. In spite of weak efficiency, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of products bring in new capital.
Trading activity remained constant, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. Many activity appears to have actually taken place in the secondary market, enabling investors to change positions without considerable main productions or redemptions.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic direct exposure focused on international 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 last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the conflict has actually impacted sentiment and costs throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in local possessions.
Why Is Business Excellence Vital for 2026 Expansion?Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and security threats across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate strength, maintaining favorable growth momentum in recent years. While disputes in the broader area and worldwide financial unpredictability remain a structural restraint, GCC nations have so far restricted their effect on domestic economic performance through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and sustained financial investment.
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