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Notify technique with evidence: Use independent data on market self-confidence, growth, and customer need to guide your strategic instructions. Confirm investment plans: Ensure resource allocation and initiatives are backed by reliable market insight. Speed up positive decisions: Gear up members of your executive team 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 Elevate 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 Passage (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program reinforces global financial ties with 26 strategic agreements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'really quickly'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to at least double annual US financial investments over next years," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Truth Sheet: President Donald J.
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Overall assets held broadly consistent over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful new capital implementation. International macro conditions set a difficult backdrop.
The GCC ETF universe consisted of 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Performance across the marketplace was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs delivering favorable returns compared to 26 in decline. In general, the information shows a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a small subset of products.
Closing the Skills Space in the UAE Labor MarketPerformance 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 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 regional market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs amidst higher oil costs, as well as its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
Egypt provided strong efficiency in January and February. Despite a market pullback in March due to the war, both Egypt's market and its ETFs still published positive returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East dispute and resulting energy shock have reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities in 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 worldwide risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and higher energy rates. Thematic ETFs likewise had a hard time for the many part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as assessment pressures and worldwide rate dynamics weighed on performance.
Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely focused, showing selective allotment rather than broad market participation. Despite weak performance, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of items drawing in brand-new capital.
Trading activity stayed stable, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. Most activity appears to have taken location in the secondary market, enabling investors to adjust positions without significant primary productions or redemptions. While current geopolitical occasions have resulted in more monetary pressure on GCC nations, the region stays resistant and well capitalized to handle the situation.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a specific niche thematic direct exposure focused on global high-end and consumer brands. 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 final approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development associating with ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has impacted belief and rates throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in local properties.
Despite continuous geopolitical stress and security risks across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to demonstrate resilience, keeping favorable growth momentum in the last few years. While conflicts in the wider region and global economic unpredictability remain a structural constraint, GCC nations have actually up until now limited their effect on domestic economic performance through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and continual investment.
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