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Inform technique with evidence: Use independent information on market self-confidence, growth, and client need to guide your strategic direction. Validate investment strategies: Make sure resource allocation and efforts are backed by reliable market insight. Speed up positive decisions: Equip members of your executive group 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 Significant 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)," May 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Passage (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program reinforces worldwide economic ties with 26 strategic arrangements," 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 prepares to at least double annual US investments over next decade," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Truth Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are getting in a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is higher. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will increasingly figure out which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In action, Climb Club, a presence launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level women, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is launching a brand-new monthly conference room discussion assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate management and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session unites board professionals to take a look at the real pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Concerns Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Developing regulative and governance expectations Innovation interruption and cyber durability Long-term worth production and sustainability imperatives Management decisions boards need to 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 directly to governance, threat oversight, and strategic direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are deliberately developing a repeating online forum that surface areas board-level insight, enhances credible female governance voices, and expands access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
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The GCC ETF market gotten in Q1 2026 in a consolidation phase, with activity staying elevated but growth slowing down. Total assets held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a significant brand-new capital implementation. Global macro conditions set a challenging background.
The GCC ETF universe made up 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Performance throughout the market was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs delivering positive returns compared to 26 in decline. In general, the data shows a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a small subset of items.
The Advantages for Operational Excellence for 2026Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in specific country exposures and products, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resilient throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching new highs in the middle of higher oil costs, as well as its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
Egypt delivered 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 conflict and resulting energy shock have actually improved the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also faced more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more cautious policy background in China and worldwide risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical stress and higher energy prices. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the most part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as evaluation pressures and worldwide rate dynamics weighed on performance.
Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, showing selective allotment rather than broad market involvement. Regardless of weak performance, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of products bring in brand-new capital.
Trading activity stayed stable, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. Many activity appears to have actually taken place in the secondary market, making it possible for investors to change positions without substantial primary creations or redemptions.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic exposure focused on global luxury and customer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some progress relating to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has impacted belief and costs throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in regional possessions.
The Advantages for Operational Excellence for 2026In spite of continuous geopolitical stress and security threats throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate strength, preserving favorable growth momentum in the last few years. While disputes in the larger region and global economic unpredictability stay a structural restriction, GCC countries have up until now limited their effect on domestic financial performance through strong fiscal positions, policy connection, and sustained investment.
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