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Notify technique with evidence: Use independent data on market confidence, development, and client need to guide your tactical instructions. Confirm financial investment strategies: Ensure resource allocation and efforts are backed by reputable market insight. Speed up confident choices: Gear up members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach contract rapidly and take definitive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Significant 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 Corridor (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme reinforces global financial ties with 26 tactical agreements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'extremely soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to at least double annual United States investments over next years," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Reality Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are entering a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is higher. Danger is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will increasingly figure out which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In reaction, Ascent Club, a presence launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level women, in partnership with BusinessDay, is releasing a brand-new regular monthly boardroom dialogue assembling 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 unites board specialists to examine the real pressures shaping board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Threats and Priorities Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Developing regulative and governance expectations Technology disruption and cyber resilience Long-term worth development and sustainability imperatives Leadership decisions boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers consist of: 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 straight to governance, risk oversight, and tactical direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are deliberately creating a recurring online forum that surface areas board-level insight, amplifies trustworthy female governance voices, and expands access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
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The GCC ETF market entered Q1 2026 in a debt consolidation phase, with activity staying raised but growth slowing. Overall properties held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued rearranging and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a significant new capital release. International macro conditions set a challenging background.
The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Performance across the marketplace was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs providing favorable returns compared to 26 in decrease. Overall, the information shows a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a small subset of products.
Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in particular nation direct exposures and commodities, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resistant during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching new highs in the middle of higher oil costs, along with its continued capability 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 posted positive returns for the quarter. The continuous Middle East dispute 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 likewise dealt with broader macro headwinds, including a more cautious policy background in China and worldwide risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy costs. Thematic ETFs also had a hard time for the many part, especially those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as appraisal pressures and global rate characteristics weighed on performance.
Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, showing selective allocation rather than broad market involvement. In spite of weak performance, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of items attracting brand-new capital.
Trading activity stayed constant, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have actually happened in the secondary market, allowing investors to change positions without considerable primary developments or redemptions. While recent geopolitical events have resulted in more monetary pressure on GCC nations, the region stays resistant and well capitalized to handle the situation.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic exposure concentrated on worldwide 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 anticipated to release in April pending a last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some development relating to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has actually impacted sentiment and prices during the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional possessions.
Winning the 2026 Talent Race From Within the UAEIn spite of continuous geopolitical tensions and security risks throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate strength, maintaining favorable development momentum in the last few years. While conflicts in the larger region and global economic uncertainty stay a structural constraint, GCC nations have actually so far limited their influence on domestic economic efficiency through strong fiscal positions, policy connection, and sustained investment.
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