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Notify strategy with evidence: Usage independent data on market confidence, development, and customer need to assist your tactical direction. Validate financial investment strategies: Ensure resource allocation and efforts are backed by reliable market insight. Accelerate confident choices: Gear up members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement quickly and take definitive 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 Declaration 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 Passage (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program reinforces global financial ties with 26 strategic contracts," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign complimentary trade pact 'very quickly'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to at least double yearly US financial investments over next years," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Truth Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are entering a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Scrutiny is greater. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will progressively determine which organisations sustain growth and which fall back. In reaction, Climb Club, a presence launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level females, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is introducing a brand-new monthly conference room dialogue assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and business management and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session unites board professionals to analyze the genuine pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Concerns Forming 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulatory and governance expectations Technology disturbance and cyber resilience Long-term value production and sustainability imperatives Leadership decisions boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers consist of: Moderator 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, threat oversight, and strategic instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are intentionally creating a repeating forum that surfaces board-level insight, magnifies credible female governance voices, and broadens access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
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Overall possessions held broadly steady over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a significant brand-new capital implementation. International macro conditions set a challenging backdrop.
The outcome was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional trend. Oil associated assets did well for the most part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Outright High-end ETF introduced on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. In Q1, two more Kraneshares have been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and are about to be approved by the Abu Dhabi Stock Market (ADX). The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Performance throughout 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 focused in a little subset of items.
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, 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 amid greater oil prices, as well as its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays 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 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 likewise faced more comprehensive macro headwinds, consisting of a more careful policy background in China and global risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy prices. Thematic ETFs also struggled for the many part, especially those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as assessment pressures and global rate dynamics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF significantly outperformed. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, reflecting selective allowance rather than broad market participation. Regardless of weak performance, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of products bring in brand-new capital. This suggests that financiers were targeting specific exposures, while minimizing or turning out of others.
Trading activity remained constant, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. Many activity appears to have actually occurred in the secondary market, enabling investors to adjust positions without considerable main developments or redemptions. While current geopolitical occasions have resulted in more monetary pressure on GCC countries, the area stays durable and well capitalized to handle the situation.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic direct exposure concentrated on international luxury and consumer 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 expected to launch in April pending a last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress associating with ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has affected sentiment and prices throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local properties.
Strategic Planning for Regional ExcellenceDespite ongoing geopolitical tensions and security risks across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show durability, keeping favorable development momentum over the last few years. While disputes in the broader area and worldwide economic unpredictability stay a structural restraint, GCC nations have actually up until now restricted their effect on domestic financial efficiency through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and sustained investment.
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