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Inform strategy with evidence: Usage independent data on market self-confidence, growth, and customer need to direct your strategic instructions. Validate investment strategies: Ensure resource allotment and initiatives are backed by reputable market insight. Accelerate confident decisions: Gear up members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach contract quickly and take definitive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Chance to Elevate 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)," Might 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 strategic agreements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'really quickly'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to at least double yearly United States financial investments over next decade," 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 specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Scrutiny is greater. Risk is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will significantly identify which organisations sustain development and which fall behind. In reaction, Climb Club, a presence launchpad curating gain access to and opportunities for board- and C-level females, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is releasing a brand-new month-to-month conference room discussion convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and corporate leadership and who are members of Climb Club.
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The GCC ETF market gone into Q1 2026 in a consolidation stage, with activity staying elevated but growth slowing down. Overall properties held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a significant brand-new capital implementation. International macro conditions set a challenging background.
The outcome was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional trend. Oil related assets did well for the many part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Outright High-end ETF launched 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 authorized 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 throughout the marketplace was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decline. In general, the data 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 idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in specific country exposures and products, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were durable throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs amid higher oil rates, along with its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains 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 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 cautious policy backdrop in China and global risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy prices. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the a lot of part, especially those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as valuation pressures and worldwide rate characteristics weighed on performance.
Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, reflecting selective allowance rather than broad market participation. In spite of weak efficiency, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of items drawing in brand-new capital.
Trading activity remained steady, with typical 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 substantial primary productions or redemptions. While current geopolitical events have led to more financial pressure on GCC countries, the region remains resistant and well capitalized to handle the situation.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic direct exposure focused on international luxury and customer 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 introduce in April pending a last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development associating with ETFs in the GCC. We expect more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the conflict has impacted sentiment and prices throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local assets.
Regardless of continuous geopolitical tensions and security threats across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show strength, preserving favorable growth momentum in the last few years. While disputes in the larger region and worldwide economic unpredictability remain a structural constraint, GCC nations have actually up until now limited their effect on domestic economic efficiency through strong financial positions, policy connection, and continual financial investment.
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