Strategic Strategy for GCC Leadership

Inform strategy with evidence: Use independent information on market confidence, development, and client demand to assist your strategic instructions. Verify investment plans: Guarantee resource allowance and initiatives are backed by reliable market insight. Accelerate positive choices: Gear up members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement quickly and take decisive action.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Opportunity to Raise Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Statement 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) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme strengthens worldwide economic ties with 26 tactical agreements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'very soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to at least double annual US financial investments over next decade," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Truth Sheet: President Donald J.

Boards throughout Africa are going into a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is greater. Danger is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will significantly identify which organisations sustain growth and which fall back. In action, Climb Club, an exposure launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level women, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is launching a brand-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.

Strategic Planning for Regional Excellence

This inaugural session brings together board specialists to analyze the genuine pressures forming board programs today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Threats and Top Priorities Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Developing regulative and governance expectations Innovation interruption and cyber durability Long-term worth creation and sustainability imperatives Management decisions boards need to prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers include: Mediator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Managing Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is a convening of executives contributing directly to governance, threat oversight, and strategic instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are intentionally developing a recurring forum that surfaces board-level insight, magnifies reliable female governance voices, and broadens access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.

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How Does Business Excellence Crucial for 2026 Growth?

The GCC ETF market gotten in Q1 2026 in a combination phase, with activity remaining elevated but growth slowing. Total assets held broadly steady over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful new capital deployment. Worldwide macro conditions set a difficult backdrop.

The outcome was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional pattern. Oil related properties succeeded for the a lot of part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Outright High-end ETF launched on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. Likewise in Q1, 2 more Kraneshares have been authorized 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 (since Q1 2026). Performance across the marketplace was broadly unfavorable, with only 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decline. In general, the information reflects a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a little subset of products.

Performance 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 exposures and products, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resistant throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching new highs amidst greater oil rates, as well as its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.

How to Leverage Market Intelligence for 2026 Growth

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 published positive returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East dispute and resulting energy shock have actually improved the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.

The sector also dealt with wider macro headwinds, including a more cautious policy background in China and worldwide risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy costs. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the a lot of part, especially those connected to carbon and high-growth innovation, as valuation pressures and global rate characteristics weighed on efficiency.

Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, showing selective allotment rather than broad market involvement. In spite of weak performance, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of products attracting brand-new capital.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Achieving Strategic Excellence in the GCC

Trading activity remained constant, with average 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 place in the secondary market, making it possible for financiers to adjust positions without considerable primary creations or redemptions. While recent geopolitical events have actually resulted in more financial pressure on GCC countries, the region stays resilient and well capitalized to handle the scenario.

In January, Boreas released its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic direct exposure focused on international luxury and customer brands. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.

Q1 2026 revealed some progress relating to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has affected belief and costs during the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional assets.

In spite of ongoing geopolitical stress and security threats across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to demonstrate resilience, keeping favorable development momentum over the last few years. While disputes in the wider region and global economic unpredictability stay a structural restriction, GCC nations have so far limited their effect on domestic financial performance through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and continual financial investment.