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Inform strategy with evidence: Usage independent data on market confidence, growth, and client need to guide your tactical direction. Validate investment plans: Guarantee resource allowance and initiatives are backed by trustworthy market insight. Speed up positive choices: Equip members of your executive team 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 Chance to Elevate Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Declaration on Economic Cooperation Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Countries (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 programme enhances international financial ties with 26 tactical contracts," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign complimentary trade 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 years," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE 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 defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is greater. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will significantly determine which organisations sustain development and which fall behind. In response, Ascent Club, an exposure launchpad curating gain access to and opportunities for board- and C-level women, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is introducing a brand-new monthly conference room dialogue convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate management and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session combines board specialists to take a look at the real pressures shaping board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Threats and Priorities Forming 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulative and governance expectations Innovation interruption and cyber strength Long-term worth creation and sustainability imperatives Leadership decisions boards must prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers include: Moderator 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 straight to governance, threat oversight, and tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are deliberately creating a repeating forum that surface areas board-level insight, magnifies reliable female governance voices, and expands access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
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Overall properties held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a significant new capital release. Global macro conditions set a difficult background.
The outcome was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional trend. Oil related properties did well for the a lot of part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Absolute Luxury ETF introduced on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. Likewise 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 made up 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Performance across the market was broadly negative, with only 13 ETFs providing favorable returns compared to 26 in decrease. Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength.
Egypt provided strong efficiency in January and February. In spite 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 ongoing 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 faced more comprehensive macro headwinds, consisting of a more cautious policy background in China and global risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy rates. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the a lot of part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as evaluation pressures and international rate characteristics weighed on efficiency.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely focused, showing selective allowance rather than broad market involvement. In spite of weak efficiency, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of products drawing in brand-new capital.
Trading activity remained steady, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. Most activity appears to have actually taken place in the secondary market, enabling financiers to change positions without significant primary developments or redemptions.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic exposure focused on global luxury and consumer brands. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress associating with ETFs in the GCC. We expect more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has actually affected belief and costs throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional assets.
The Operational Benefits of Deep Strategy ResearchIn spite of ongoing geopolitical stress and security threats across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to demonstrate strength, preserving positive growth momentum over the last few years. While disputes in the larger region and global financial unpredictability stay a structural constraint, GCC nations have so far limited their influence on domestic economic performance through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and continual investment.
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