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Notify technique with proof: Usage independent data on market confidence, development, and client need to direct your strategic instructions. Confirm financial investment strategies: Ensure resource allotment and efforts are backed by reputable market insight. Accelerate confident choices: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement rapidly and take decisive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA in between the GCC and the UK is a Major Strategic Opportunity to Raise Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Statement on Economic Cooperation Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (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 programme enhances global economic ties with 26 strategic arrangements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'really soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to a minimum of double yearly US financial investments over next years," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Truth Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are going into a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is greater. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will progressively figure out which organisations sustain growth and which fall back. In reaction, Climb Club, a visibility launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level females, in cooperation with BusinessDay, is launching a brand-new month-to-month conference room 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 combines board specialists to take a look at the genuine pressures shaping board programs today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Priorities Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Developing regulative and governance expectations Innovation disruption and cyber durability Long-lasting worth production and sustainability imperatives Management decisions boards need to prioritise heading into 2026 Climb 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 directly to governance, risk oversight, and strategic instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are deliberately creating 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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Overall possessions held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful new capital release. Global macro conditions set a challenging background.
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 positive side, in January, the Boreas Outright Luxury ETF introduced on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. Likewise in Q1, two more Kraneshares have actually been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and are about to 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 market was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. In general, the data reflects a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a little subset of items.
Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in particular nation direct exposures and commodities, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resistant during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs in the middle of higher oil prices, 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. In spite of a market pullback in March due to the war, both Egypt's market and its ETFs still posted positive returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East conflict 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 faced broader macro headwinds, consisting of a more careful policy background in China and global risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and higher energy rates. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the a lot of part, especially those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as appraisal pressures and international rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF considerably surpassed. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, showing selective allocation instead of broad market involvement. Despite weak performance, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of items drawing in brand-new capital. This indicates that investors were targeting specific direct exposures, while reducing or turning out of others.
Trading activity stayed constant, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. A lot of activity appears to have actually taken place in the secondary market, enabling financiers to adjust positions without considerable main creations or redemptions. While recent geopolitical occasions have led to more financial pressure on GCC countries, the area stays resistant and well capitalized to deal with the circumstance.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic direct exposure focused on global high-end and customer 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 release in April pending a final approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some development connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the conflict has affected sentiment and prices during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in regional assets.
How Emerging Saudi Centers Are Drawing In Global Financial InvestmentDespite ongoing geopolitical tensions and security risks across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show resilience, maintaining favorable growth momentum in the last few years. While conflicts in the broader region and global economic unpredictability stay a structural restriction, GCC nations have actually so far limited their influence on domestic economic performance through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and sustained investment.
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