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Notify strategy with proof: Usage independent data on market self-confidence, development, and customer need to guide your strategic direction. Validate financial investment strategies: Make sure resource allotment and efforts are backed by reliable market insight. Speed up positive decisions: Gear up members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement quickly and take decisive action.

1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA in 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 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 strengthens global economic ties with 26 strategic arrangements," 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 prepares to at least double yearly US investments over next years," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position country 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. Analysis is greater. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will progressively identify which organisations sustain development and which fall back. In response, Climb Club, a presence launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level ladies, in partnership with BusinessDay, is releasing a brand-new monthly boardroom discussion assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and business leadership and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session unites board specialists to take a look at the genuine pressures shaping board programs today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Threats and Priorities Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Developing regulatory and governance expectations Innovation disturbance and cyber strength Long-lasting value creation and sustainability imperatives Leadership decisions boards need to 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 tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this partnership, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are intentionally producing a recurring online forum that surface areas board-level insight, enhances credible female governance voices, and broadens 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 stage, with activity remaining elevated however growth slowing. Total assets held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a significant brand-new capital deployment. Global macro conditions set a challenging backdrop.
The result was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional pattern. Oil related possessions did well for the a lot of part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Outright Luxury ETF released on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. 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 Market (ADX). 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 just 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength.
Egypt delivered 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 conflict and resulting energy shock have actually improved the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also faced broader macro headwinds, consisting of a more cautious policy backdrop in China and worldwide risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy prices. Thematic ETFs likewise struggled for the many part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth innovation, as assessment pressures and worldwide rate characteristics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF significantly exceeded. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely focused, showing selective allocation instead of broad market participation. Regardless of weak efficiency, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of products bring in new capital. This indicates that investors were targeting particular exposures, while decreasing or turning out of others.
Trading activity remained consistent, 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 change positions without substantial main productions or redemptions.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic direct exposure focused on international high-end and consumer brand names. 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 introduce in April pending a final approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some development connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the conflict has affected belief and prices during the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in local possessions.
Enterprise Agility in a Changing GCC MarketDespite continuous geopolitical tensions and security risks across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to demonstrate durability, preserving favorable development momentum in current years. While conflicts in the wider area and global economic uncertainty stay a structural restraint, GCC nations have actually so far restricted their influence on domestic financial efficiency through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and sustained financial investment.
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