Driving Strategic Excellence in the GCC

Notify strategy with evidence: Usage independent data on market confidence, development, and client demand to assist your tactical direction. Confirm financial investment strategies: Guarantee resource allocation and efforts are backed by reputable market insight. Speed up positive decisions: Equip members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement rapidly and take definitive action.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Major 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)," Might 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Passage (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program enhances global financial ties with 26 strategic arrangements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'very quickly'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to a minimum of double yearly United States financial investments over next decade," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Fact Sheet: President Donald J.

Boards throughout Africa are going into a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Scrutiny is greater. Danger is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will increasingly determine which organisations sustain growth and which fall back. In response, Ascent Club, a presence launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level women, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is launching a new month-to-month conference room discussion convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and corporate management and who are members of Climb Club.

Why Does Business Excellence Essential for 2026 Growth?

This inaugural session unites board professionals to take a look at the genuine pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Top Priorities Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulative and governance expectations Technology disruption and cyber resilience Long-lasting worth development and sustainability imperatives Leadership decisions boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers include: Moderator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Managing Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is a convening of executives contributing directly to governance, danger oversight, and strategic instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are intentionally producing a recurring forum that surface areas board-level insight, amplifies trustworthy female governance voices, and expands access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.

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Ways to Leverage Market Research for 2026 Success

The GCC ETF market entered Q1 2026 in a combination phase, with activity remaining elevated but development slowing. Total assets held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news instead of a significant new capital implementation. Global macro conditions set a challenging backdrop.

The result was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional pattern. Oil associated properties did well for the a lot of part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Outright High-end ETF introduced on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. In Q1, two more Kraneshares have actually been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and will be authorized by the Abu Dhabi Stock Market (ADX). The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency throughout the market was broadly unfavorable, with only 13 ETFs delivering positive returns compared to 26 in decline. In general, the data shows a market that is active however 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, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in particular nation direct exposures and commodities, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resistant throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs in the middle of higher oil prices, in addition to its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.

Strategic Planning for Regional Excellence

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 published favorable returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.

The sector likewise dealt with more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more careful policy backdrop in China and worldwide risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy costs. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the many part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth innovation, as valuation pressures and worldwide rate characteristics weighed on performance.

Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, showing selective allotment rather than broad market participation. Despite weak efficiency, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of products bring in brand-new capital.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Advanced Strategy for Regional Success

Trading activity stayed constant, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. Most activity appears to have taken place in the secondary market, making it possible for investors to adjust positions without considerable primary creations or redemptions. While current geopolitical occasions have actually led to more financial pressure on GCC nations, the region stays resistant and well capitalized to handle the scenario.

In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic exposure concentrated on worldwide 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 launch in April pending a final approval from ADX.

Q1 2026 showed some development relating to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has actually affected sentiment and prices during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in regional possessions.

Regardless of continuous geopolitical tensions and security threats throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to demonstrate resilience, preserving positive growth momentum recently. While conflicts in the larger area and worldwide economic uncertainty remain a structural restraint, GCC nations have actually up until now restricted their effect on domestic financial performance through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and sustained financial investment.