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Notify strategy with proof: Usage independent data on market confidence, growth, and customer need to direct your strategic direction. Validate investment strategies: Ensure resource allotment and initiatives are backed by reputable market insight. Speed up positive decisions: Equip 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 Major Strategic Chance to Elevate Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Statement 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 Corridor (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme strengthens worldwide economic ties with 26 strategic arrangements," 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 prepares to a minimum of double annual US 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, "Fact Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are getting in a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is higher. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will increasingly figure out which organisations sustain development and which fall behind. In reaction, Climb Club, a visibility launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level ladies, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is launching a brand-new month-to-month conference room discussion assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and corporate management and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session brings together board practitioners to take a look at the real pressures forming board programs today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Top Priorities Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Developing regulative and governance expectations Technology disturbance and cyber durability Long-lasting worth creation and sustainability imperatives Management decisions 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, risk oversight, and strategic direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are purposefully creating a recurring online forum that surfaces board-level insight, magnifies reputable female governance voices, and expands access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
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The GCC ETF market entered Q1 2026 in a consolidation stage, with activity remaining elevated but growth slowing. Overall possessions held broadly steady over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news instead of a meaningful brand-new capital release. Global macro conditions set a challenging backdrop.
The GCC ETF universe made up 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Performance across the market was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs delivering positive returns compared to 26 in decline. Overall, the information shows a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a small subset of products.
The 2026 Vision for Human Capital in the UAEPerformance 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 direct exposures and products, 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 regional market, with Aramco reaching 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 provided 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 actually reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also dealt with more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more mindful policy backdrop in China and international risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy rates. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the many part, especially those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as valuation pressures and global rate characteristics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF substantially outshined. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely focused, showing selective allowance rather than broad market participation. Despite weak efficiency, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of items attracting brand-new capital. This indicates that investors were targeting particular direct exposures, while decreasing or rotating out of others.
Trading activity remained constant, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. Many activity appears to have taken location in the secondary market, enabling financiers to adjust positions without substantial primary creations or redemptions.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a specific niche thematic exposure focused on worldwide high-end and consumer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some development relating to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has impacted sentiment and prices throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional properties.
Regardless of ongoing geopolitical tensions and security dangers throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate durability, keeping favorable development momentum in the last few years. While disputes in the broader region and international financial uncertainty remain a structural restraint, GCC countries have up until now limited their influence on domestic financial performance through strong fiscal positions, policy connection, and continual investment.
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