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Notify technique with proof: Usage independent data on market confidence, development, and client demand to assist your tactical direction. Verify investment strategies: Guarantee resource allocation and efforts are backed by reputable market insight. Accelerate confident choices: Gear up members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement quickly and take decisive action.

1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA in between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Opportunity 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) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme reinforces international economic ties with 26 strategic agreements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'very quickly'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to a minimum of double annual United States investments over next years," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Reality Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are going into a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is higher. 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 gain access to and chances for board- and C-level women, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is launching a brand-new regular monthly 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 Ascent Club.
This inaugural session combines board specialists to analyze the genuine pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Risks and Priorities Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulative and governance expectations Technology interruption and cyber durability Long-lasting value creation and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards must prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers include: Mediator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Handling Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.

Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is a convening of executives contributing straight to governance, risk oversight, and strategic instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are deliberately producing a recurring online forum that surfaces board-level insight, enhances credible female governance voices, and expands access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
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The GCC ETF market gone into Q1 2026 in a combination phase, with activity staying raised but development slowing. Overall assets held broadly steady over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a significant new capital deployment. International macro conditions set a challenging backdrop.
The outcome was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional pattern. Oil related assets succeeded for the most part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Absolute High-end ETF released on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. In Q1, two more Kraneshares have actually been authorized for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and will be authorized by the Abu Dhabi Stock Market (ADX). The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Performance throughout the market was broadly unfavorable, with only 13 ETFs delivering positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. Overall, the data reflects a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a little subset of items.
Why Analytics Redefines GCC Enterprise VisionPerformance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in specific country direct exposures and commodities, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resilient throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching new highs in the middle of higher oil prices, as well as 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 posted positive returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have improved the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also faced wider macro headwinds, including a more mindful policy backdrop in China and global risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy costs. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the a lot of part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as valuation pressures and international rate characteristics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF significantly outperformed. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, reflecting selective allotment rather than broad market participation. Regardless of weak efficiency, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of products attracting brand-new capital. This suggests that investors were targeting particular 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. Most activity appears to have actually taken location in the secondary market, making it possible for financiers to change positions without substantial primary creations or redemptions.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury 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 showed some development connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has actually affected belief and prices during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local possessions.
Boosting ROI Via Modern Middle East Market AnalysisRegardless of ongoing geopolitical tensions and security risks throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to demonstrate resilience, keeping positive growth momentum in recent years. While conflicts in the wider region and global financial unpredictability stay a structural constraint, GCC countries have actually so far restricted their influence on domestic economic efficiency through strong financial positions, policy connection, and continual investment.
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