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Notify strategy with evidence: Usage independent information on market self-confidence, development, and client need to direct your strategic direction. Validate financial investment plans: Make sure resource allotment and initiatives are backed by trustworthy market insight. Accelerate positive decisions: Gear up members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement quickly and take definitive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA in between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Opportunity to Raise Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Statement on Economic Cooperation 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 programme enhances worldwide economic ties with 26 tactical arrangements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to a minimum of double annual United States investments over next years," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Fact Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are going into a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is higher. Risk is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will significantly identify which organisations sustain growth and which fall back. In action, Ascent Club, a visibility launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level ladies, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is introducing a brand-new regular monthly boardroom dialogue convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate leadership and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session unites board professionals to take a look at the genuine pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Risks and Priorities Forming 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Developing regulative and governance expectations Innovation interruption and cyber strength Long-term value creation and sustainability imperatives Management decisions 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 directly to governance, threat oversight, and tactical direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are intentionally producing a repeating forum that surfaces board-level insight, amplifies credible female governance voices, and expands access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
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Total assets held broadly steady over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful new capital deployment. International macro conditions set a difficult background.
The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency throughout the marketplace was broadly negative, with only 13 ETFs delivering positive returns compared to 26 in decline. Overall, the information reflects a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a little subset of products.
Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in specific nation exposures and products, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were durable during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs amidst greater oil costs, along with its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
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 actually improved the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise faced wider macro headwinds, consisting of a more mindful policy background in China and global risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy rates. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the many part, especially those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as valuation pressures and international rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF significantly surpassed. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and highly concentrated, showing selective allowance rather than broad market involvement. In spite of weak performance, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of items attracting new capital. This suggests that investors were targeting specific direct exposures, while reducing or turning out of others.
Trading activity remained stable, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. A lot of activity appears to have actually taken location in the secondary market, allowing investors to adjust positions without significant main productions or redemptions.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a specific niche thematic direct exposure focused on worldwide luxury and customer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has affected belief and costs throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional possessions.
How to Enhance GCC Business PlanningRegardless of continuous geopolitical tensions and security risks across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show durability, maintaining positive growth momentum in the last few years. While conflicts in the wider area and international economic uncertainty stay a structural restraint, GCC countries have up until now restricted their impact on domestic financial efficiency through strong fiscal positions, policy connection, and continual investment.
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