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Inform strategy with evidence: Use independent information on market confidence, growth, and customer demand to guide your tactical direction. Verify financial investment strategies: Make sure resource allotment and initiatives are backed by trustworthy market insight. Accelerate confident decisions: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement quickly and take decisive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Major Strategic Chance to Elevate Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Statement on Economic Cooperation In Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," Might 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Passage (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme reinforces international financial 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 plans to a minimum of double yearly United States investments over next decade," 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 throughout Africa are going into a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is greater. Danger is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will significantly identify which organisations sustain growth and which fall back. In response, Climb Club, a presence launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level females, in partnership with BusinessDay, is introducing a brand-new month-to-month conference room dialogue convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate leadership and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session brings together board practitioners to analyze the real pressures forming board programs today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Risks and Top Priorities Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulatory and governance expectations Innovation disruption and cyber resilience Long-term worth development and sustainability imperatives Leadership decisions boards must 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 an assembling of executives contributing directly to governance, threat oversight, and strategic direction within their organisations. Through this partnership, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are deliberately developing a repeating online forum that surface areas board-level insight, amplifies credible female governance voices, and expands access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
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The GCC ETF market entered Q1 2026 in a consolidation phase, with activity remaining elevated however growth slowing. Total assets held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful brand-new capital release. International macro conditions set a challenging backdrop.
The outcome was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional pattern. Oil related possessions did well for the a lot of part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Outright High-end ETF released on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. Also in Q1, two more Kraneshares have been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and are about to be authorized by the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (ADX). The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Efficiency across the marketplace was broadly unfavorable, with only 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. Overall, the data reflects a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a little subset of items.
Essential GCC Market Research Insights for 2026Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in specific nation exposures and products, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resistant during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs amid greater oil costs, along with its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays open.
Egypt provided strong performance 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 continuous Middle East dispute and resulting energy shock have actually reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise dealt with 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 struggled for the many part, especially those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as valuation pressures and worldwide rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely focused, reflecting selective allotment rather than broad market involvement. Despite weak efficiency, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of items drawing in new capital.
Trading activity stayed consistent, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. Most activity appears to have taken location in the secondary market, enabling financiers to change positions without substantial primary developments or redemptions.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic exposure concentrated on global luxury 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 anticipated to release in April pending a last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development associating with ETFs in the GCC. We expect more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has actually impacted sentiment and rates during the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in local possessions.
Essential GCC Market Research Insights for 2026Regardless of continuous geopolitical stress and security dangers throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show durability, maintaining favorable growth momentum over the last few years. While disputes in the broader region and global financial uncertainty remain a structural restraint, GCC nations have actually so far restricted their influence on domestic economic efficiency through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and continual investment.
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