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Notify method with evidence: Usage independent data on market confidence, development, and client need to direct your tactical direction. Confirm financial investment strategies: Ensure resource allotment and initiatives are backed by reputable market insight. Speed up confident choices: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement rapidly and take definitive 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)," May 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program reinforces global economic ties with 26 tactical arrangements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign free trade pact 'very soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to a minimum of double annual United States investments over next decade," 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 across Africa are getting in a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is higher. Risk is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will increasingly identify which organisations sustain development and which fall back. In action, Ascent Club, an exposure launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level females, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is launching a new month-to-month conference room dialogue convening 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 brings together board specialists to examine the genuine pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Threats and Concerns Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulatory and governance expectations Technology disturbance and cyber strength Long-term value development and sustainability imperatives Leadership choices boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers consist of: Mediator 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, risk oversight, and strategic direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are purposefully developing a recurring online forum that surfaces board-level insight, enhances reliable female governance voices, and expands access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
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The GCC ETF market gone into Q1 2026 in a debt consolidation phase, with activity remaining elevated but development slowing. Overall possessions held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a response to geopolitical news instead of a meaningful new capital deployment. Worldwide 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). Efficiency across the market was broadly negative, with only 13 ETFs delivering favorable returns compared to 26 in decline. In general, the data reflects a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a small subset of items.
Connecting Strategy and Business Excellence Across the GulfPerformance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in specific nation exposures and commodities, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were durable during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs amidst greater oil rates, along with its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
Egypt delivered 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 continuous 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 likewise faced more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more cautious policy background in China and international risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy prices. Thematic ETFs likewise struggled for the many part, especially those connected to carbon and high-growth innovation, as appraisal pressures and international rate characteristics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF substantially outperformed. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, showing selective allotment rather than broad market participation. Despite weak performance, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of products attracting brand-new capital. This suggests that investors were targeting specific direct exposures, while decreasing or turning out of others.

Trading activity remained steady, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. A lot of activity appears to have taken location in the secondary market, making it possible for financiers to change positions without substantial main creations or redemptions.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic direct exposure focused on worldwide high-end and consumer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development associating with ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the conflict has impacted belief and prices during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in regional possessions.
Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and security threats across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show resilience, keeping positive development momentum in the last few years. While disputes in the larger area and global economic uncertainty stay a structural restriction, GCC nations have actually so far restricted their effect on domestic economic efficiency through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and continual financial investment.
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