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Notify strategy with proof: Use independent information on market confidence, development, and client need to guide your strategic instructions. Verify financial investment strategies: Ensure resource allocation and initiatives are backed by reliable market insight. Speed up positive choices: Gear up members of your executive team 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 Significant 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 Corridor (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program strengthens global economic ties with 26 strategic contracts," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign complimentary trade pact 'extremely soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to a minimum of double yearly United States financial investments over next decade," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Reality Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are getting in a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is higher. Danger is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will increasingly determine which organisations sustain development and which fall back. In reaction, Ascent Club, an exposure launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level women, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is introducing a brand-new regular monthly boardroom dialogue assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate management and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session combines board practitioners to take a look at the genuine pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Priorities Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulatory and governance expectations Innovation disruption and cyber durability Long-lasting value creation 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, danger oversight, and strategic direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are intentionally creating a repeating forum that surfaces board-level insight, magnifies trustworthy female governance voices, and expands access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
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Total assets held broadly consistent over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a significant new capital deployment. Worldwide macro conditions set a tough backdrop.
The outcome was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional trend. Oil associated possessions did well for the many part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Outright Luxury ETF released on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. In Q1, 2 more Kraneshares have actually been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and will be authorized by the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (ADX). The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency throughout the marketplace was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs providing favorable 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.
GCC News: Strategic Corporate Trends in 2026Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in particular nation direct exposures and products, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resistant during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching new highs in the middle of higher oil rates, in addition to its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays open.
Egypt provided strong performance 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 continuous Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have improved the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also dealt with broader macro headwinds, including a more cautious policy background in China and international risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy rates. Thematic ETFs likewise had a hard time for the many part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as valuation pressures and worldwide rate dynamics weighed on performance.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly concentrated, showing selective allocation rather than broad market involvement. Despite weak performance, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of items drawing in new capital.

Trading activity stayed constant, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have taken place in the secondary market, enabling investors to change positions without substantial primary productions or redemptions.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a specific niche thematic exposure focused on global luxury and consumer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has actually impacted sentiment and rates throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in regional assets.
Key Findings Within Latest GCC Market Research ReportsDespite continuous geopolitical stress and security dangers across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate strength, maintaining positive growth momentum in current years. While conflicts in the larger area and global financial uncertainty remain a structural restraint, GCC countries have up until now limited their effect on domestic economic performance through strong financial positions, policy connection, and continual investment.
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