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Inform technique with proof: Use independent data on market confidence, growth, and customer need to direct your tactical direction. Confirm financial investment plans: Guarantee resource allowance and efforts are backed by credible market insight. Speed up confident decisions: Gear up members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement quickly and take decisive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Major Strategic Chance to Elevate Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Statement on Economic Cooperation In Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," May 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Passage (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program reinforces international economic ties with 26 tactical contracts," 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 at least double yearly US investments over next decade," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Truth Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are getting in a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Scrutiny is higher. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will significantly identify which organisations sustain development and which fall behind. In response, Ascent Club, an exposure launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level females, in cooperation with BusinessDay, is launching a new month-to-month conference room discussion convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and business leadership and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session combines board professionals to take a look at the real pressures forming board programs today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Threats and Priorities Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulatory and governance expectations Innovation disturbance and cyber strength Long-lasting worth development and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards need to prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers include: 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 directly to governance, threat oversight, and tactical direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are intentionally developing a repeating forum that surfaces board-level insight, magnifies credible female governance voices, and expands access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
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Total possessions held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful new capital release. Worldwide macro conditions set a challenging background.
The result was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional pattern. Oil related assets succeeded for the most part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Absolute High-end ETF released on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. In Q1, two more Kraneshares have been authorized for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and are about to be authorized by the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (ADX). The GCC ETF universe consisted of 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Performance across the marketplace was broadly unfavorable, with only 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decline. In general, the information shows a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a small subset of products.
GCC News: Strategic Market Trends for 2026Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in specific country exposures and products, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resilient throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs amidst higher oil costs, as well as its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
Egypt delivered strong efficiency in January and February. Despite a market pullback in March due to the war, both Egypt's market and its ETFs still posted favorable returns for the quarter. The ongoing 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 broader macro headwinds, including a more cautious policy backdrop in China and worldwide risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy costs. Thematic ETFs likewise struggled for the many part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as valuation pressures and worldwide rate characteristics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF significantly exceeded. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, showing selective allocation rather than broad market participation. Regardless of weak performance, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of items drawing in new capital. This shows that financiers were targeting specific direct exposures, while decreasing or turning out of others.
Trading activity remained stable, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. Many activity appears to have actually taken location in the secondary market, enabling financiers to adjust positions without substantial main productions or redemptions. While recent geopolitical occasions have actually resulted in more financial pressure on GCC nations, the region remains resistant and well capitalized to handle the circumstance.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic direct exposure focused on worldwide luxury and consumer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has affected sentiment and costs during the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional possessions.
GCC News: Strategic Market Trends for 2026In spite of continuous geopolitical stress and security dangers across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate resilience, keeping positive development momentum recently. While disputes in the larger area and worldwide financial uncertainty remain a structural restraint, GCC countries have actually so far restricted their effect on domestic financial performance through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and continual financial investment.
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