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Inform strategy with proof: Usage independent information on market confidence, development, and customer demand to guide your tactical direction. Verify financial investment plans: Make sure resource allotment and initiatives are backed by credible market insight. Accelerate positive choices: Equip members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement quickly and take definitive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Major Strategic Chance 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)," May 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program enhances international financial ties with 26 tactical agreements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to at least double annual US investments over next decade," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Truth Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are getting in a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is greater. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will significantly figure out which organisations sustain growth and which fall back. In reaction, Ascent Club, a visibility launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level ladies, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is launching a new monthly 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 Climb Club.
This inaugural session brings together board specialists to analyze the real pressures shaping board programs today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Risks and Top Priorities Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Developing regulative and governance expectations Technology disturbance and cyber resilience Long-lasting worth development and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards must prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent 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 an assembling of executives contributing directly to governance, danger oversight, and tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are purposefully developing a recurring forum that surface areas board-level insight, magnifies reliable female governance voices, and broadens access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
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Total properties held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a significant brand-new capital implementation. Global macro conditions set a tough background.
The outcome was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional trend. Oil associated assets did well for the most part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Outright High-end ETF introduced on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. Likewise in Q1, 2 more Kraneshares have actually been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and will 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 throughout the marketplace was broadly unfavorable, with only 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. Overall, the information reflects a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a little subset of items.
Six Errors to Avoid When Going Into the Saudi MarketPerformance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in specific nation direct exposures and commodities, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resilient during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching new highs in the middle of greater oil rates, in addition to its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays 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 favorable 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, consisting of a more mindful policy backdrop in China and global risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy prices. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the many part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as valuation pressures and worldwide rate characteristics weighed on efficiency.
Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely focused, reflecting selective allocation rather than broad market involvement. Regardless of weak performance, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of products drawing in new capital.
Trading activity remained constant, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. A lot of activity appears to have occurred in the secondary market, allowing investors to change positions without significant main developments or redemptions. While current geopolitical occasions have actually resulted in more financial pressure on GCC countries, the region stays resilient and well capitalized to deal with the scenario.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic direct exposure focused on worldwide high-end and customer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some progress associating with ETFs in the GCC. We expect more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has actually affected belief and prices during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in regional possessions.
Assessing the Potential of Saudi Arabia's Emerging Urban HubsRegardless of continuous geopolitical tensions and security threats across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show strength, maintaining positive growth momentum recently. While conflicts in the larger area and global economic unpredictability remain a structural constraint, GCC nations have up until now restricted their influence on domestic financial efficiency through strong fiscal positions, policy connection, and continual investment.
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