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Will Market Analytics Drive Middle East Corporate Success?
Actionable Tips for Navigating the 2026 Regional Landscape
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Inform strategy with proof: Usage independent information on market self-confidence, growth, and client demand to guide your strategic instructions. Verify investment strategies: Guarantee resource allocation and initiatives are backed by reliable market insight. Speed up positive choices: Equip members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement rapidly and take definitive action.

1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA in between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Opportunity 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) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme strengthens worldwide financial ties with 26 strategic contracts," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign complimentary trade pact 'soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to at least double annual US investments over next years," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Truth Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are getting in a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is greater. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will significantly determine which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In reaction, Ascent Club, a presence launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level women, in partnership with BusinessDay, is introducing a brand-new monthly boardroom dialogue convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate management and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session unites board practitioners to examine the real pressures forming board programs today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Priorities Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulative and governance expectations Technology disturbance and cyber resilience Long-term value production and sustainability imperatives Management 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.

Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is an assembling of executives contributing straight to governance, danger oversight, and tactical direction within their organisations. Through this partnership, Climb Club and BusinessDay are deliberately creating a recurring forum that surfaces board-level insight, enhances credible female governance voices, and expands access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
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The GCC ETF market gotten in Q1 2026 in a combination stage, with activity remaining elevated however growth slowing. Overall properties held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news instead of a meaningful brand-new capital implementation. International macro conditions set a difficult backdrop.
The result was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional pattern. Oil related properties succeeded 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 authorized for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and are about to be approved by the Abu Dhabi Stock Market (ADX). The GCC ETF universe comprised 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 delivering positive returns compared to 26 in decline. Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength.
Egypt provided strong efficiency in January and February. Regardless 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 ongoing Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have actually reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise faced wider macro headwinds, consisting of a more mindful policy backdrop in China and global risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy costs. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the a lot of part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as valuation pressures and global rate dynamics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF considerably surpassed. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, reflecting selective allocation instead of broad market involvement. Despite weak efficiency, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of items attracting brand-new capital. This shows that investors were targeting specific direct exposures, while minimizing or turning out of others.

Trading activity remained consistent, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. A lot of activity appears to have taken location in the secondary market, allowing investors to adjust positions without substantial main creations or redemptions. While recent geopolitical occasions have actually resulted in more financial pressure on GCC countries, the region remains resistant and well capitalized to deal with the situation.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic exposure concentrated on global 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 progress associating with ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has actually impacted belief and costs throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local possessions.
Driving Organizational Excellence for the 2026 GCCDespite ongoing geopolitical stress and security risks across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show resilience, keeping favorable growth momentum over the last few years. While conflicts in the wider region and global financial uncertainty remain a structural constraint, GCC nations have actually up until now restricted their effect on domestic economic efficiency through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and continual financial investment.
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