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Inform technique with proof: Usage independent data on market self-confidence, development, and client need to guide your tactical direction. Confirm financial investment strategies: Make sure resource allocation and initiatives are backed by reputable market insight. Accelerate positive choices: Equip members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement quickly and take decisive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA in 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 Nations (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 enhances worldwide economic ties with 26 strategic contracts," 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 yearly United States investments over next decade," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Truth Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are going into a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is higher. Risk is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will significantly determine which organisations sustain growth and which fall back. In reaction, Climb Club, a presence launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level women, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is releasing a brand-new regular monthly boardroom dialogue assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and business leadership and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session unites board specialists to analyze the real pressures shaping board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Risks and Priorities Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Developing regulatory and governance expectations Technology interruption and cyber durability Long-lasting value development and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent 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 straight to governance, danger oversight, and strategic instructions within their organisations. Through this partnership, Climb Club and BusinessDay are intentionally producing a recurring forum that surface areas board-level insight, amplifies reliable female governance voices, and expands access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
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Overall properties held broadly steady over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful new capital implementation. Global macro conditions set a tough backdrop.
The outcome was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional trend. Oil associated properties did well for the a lot of part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Outright High-end ETF released on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. In Q1, 2 more Kraneshares have been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and will be approved by the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (ADX). The GCC ETF universe made up 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Performance throughout the marketplace was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs providing favorable returns compared to 26 in decrease. Overall, the data shows a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a small subset of products.
Why Digital Transformation Does Fuel Growth?Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in particular nation exposures and commodities, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were durable during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its regional 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 remains open.
Egypt provided strong performance in January and February. Regardless of a market pullback in March due to the war, both Egypt's market and its ETFs still published positive returns for the quarter. The continuous Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have actually reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise faced wider macro headwinds, including a more careful policy background in China and worldwide risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and higher energy prices. Thematic ETFs likewise had a hard time for the many part, especially those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as valuation pressures and worldwide rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and highly concentrated, reflecting selective allowance rather than broad market participation. Regardless of weak efficiency, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of products drawing in brand-new capital.
Trading activity remained steady, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. Most activity appears to have occurred in the secondary market, enabling financiers to change positions without considerable primary creations or redemptions. While recent geopolitical events have actually led to more monetary pressure on GCC nations, the region stays resilient and well capitalized to handle the circumstance.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a specific niche thematic direct exposure focused on global luxury and customer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development relating to ETFs in the GCC. We expect 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 driven more volume and interest in local assets.
The Strategic Advantages of Deep Market ResearchRegardless of ongoing geopolitical stress and security dangers across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show resilience, keeping positive development momentum in current years. While conflicts in the larger area and global economic unpredictability stay a structural restriction, GCC countries have actually so far limited their influence on domestic financial efficiency through strong financial positions, policy connection, and continual investment.
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