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Notify method with evidence: Use independent information on market confidence, growth, and client need to assist your tactical direction. Verify investment strategies: Make sure resource allocation and initiatives are backed by credible market insight. Accelerate positive choices: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach contract rapidly and take definitive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA in between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Chance to Raise Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Declaration 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 Passage (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program enhances worldwide financial ties with 26 tactical agreements," 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 a minimum of double annual United States 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, "Fact Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are entering a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Scrutiny is greater. Danger is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will progressively determine which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In reaction, Climb Club, a presence launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level ladies, in cooperation with BusinessDay, is launching a new regular monthly conference room dialogue convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate management and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session combines board professionals to examine the real pressures shaping board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Priorities Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Developing regulatory and governance expectations Innovation interruption and cyber resilience Long-term worth creation and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards need to prioritise heading into 2026 Climb 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 a convening of executives contributing straight to governance, risk oversight, and strategic direction within their organisations. Through this partnership, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are purposefully developing a recurring forum that surface areas board-level insight, enhances trustworthy female governance voices, and expands access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
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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 new capital implementation. Worldwide macro conditions set a tough backdrop.
The GCC ETF universe consisted of 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Performance across the market was broadly unfavorable, with only 13 ETFs delivering positive returns compared to 26 in decline. Overall, the information reflects a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a little subset of items.
Performance 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, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resistant during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs in the middle of higher oil prices, along with its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
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 favorable returns for the quarter. The continuous Middle East dispute and resulting energy shock have reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise dealt with more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more cautious policy background in China and worldwide risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy rates. Thematic ETFs likewise had a hard time for the a lot of part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth innovation, as appraisal pressures and international rate dynamics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF significantly surpassed. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, reflecting selective allowance rather than broad market involvement. In spite of weak efficiency, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of items drawing in brand-new capital. This shows that investors were targeting particular direct exposures, while minimizing or rotating out of others.
Trading activity stayed consistent, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. Most activity appears to have taken location in the secondary market, allowing financiers to adjust positions without significant main creations or redemptions. While recent geopolitical occasions have resulted in more financial pressure on GCC nations, the region stays resilient and well capitalized to deal with the situation.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic direct exposure concentrated on international luxury and customer 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 release in April pending a last approval from 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 dispute has actually affected belief and prices during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in regional properties.
The Financier's Handbook for Qatar and Oman LawsDespite ongoing geopolitical stress and security threats throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate strength, preserving positive development momentum in current years. While conflicts in the larger region and international financial unpredictability remain a structural constraint, GCC nations have actually up until now limited their influence on domestic economic efficiency through strong financial positions, policy connection, and continual investment.
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