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Notify method with evidence: Usage independent data on market confidence, growth, and customer need to direct your strategic direction. Confirm financial investment plans: Ensure resource allotment and efforts are backed by reliable market insight. Accelerate positive choices: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement quickly and take definitive action.

1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Opportunity 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)," May 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program enhances international financial ties with 26 strategic contracts," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign free trade pact 'soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to at least double annual United States financial investments over next years," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Reality 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 identify which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In action, Climb Club, an exposure launchpad curating access and opportunities for board- and C-level females, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is introducing a new regular monthly conference room dialogue convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and business leadership and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session brings together board professionals to analyze the real pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Top Priorities Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulative and governance expectations Innovation disturbance and cyber resilience Long-lasting value development and sustainability imperatives Management decisions boards need to prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers consist of: Moderator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Handling Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.

Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is a convening of executives contributing directly to governance, risk oversight, and strategic instructions within their organisations. Through this partnership, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are deliberately creating a recurring forum that surface areas board-level insight, enhances credible female governance voices, and expands access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
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Total properties held broadly steady over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a significant brand-new capital deployment. International macro conditions set a challenging background.
The result was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional trend. Oil associated possessions did well for the most part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Absolute Luxury ETF released on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. Also 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 consisted of 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency across the marketplace was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs delivering positive returns compared to 26 in decline. Overall, the data shows a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a little subset of products.
Will Market Research Define Middle East Corporate Success?Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive 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 durable throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching new highs amidst higher oil rates, along with 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 continuous 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 likewise faced broader macro headwinds, consisting of a more careful policy backdrop in China and worldwide risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy costs. Thematic ETFs likewise had a hard time for the a lot of part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as assessment pressures and international rate characteristics weighed on efficiency.
Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, showing selective allocation rather than broad market participation. Regardless of weak efficiency, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of products drawing in new capital.

Trading activity stayed constant, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. Many activity appears to have taken place in the secondary market, allowing financiers to change positions without significant primary creations or redemptions. While current geopolitical events have led to more financial pressure on GCC countries, the area stays durable and well capitalized to deal with the scenario.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic direct exposure focused on global high-end and customer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some progress connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has actually affected belief and costs throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local properties.
The Advantages for Strategic Efficiency in 2026Regardless of continuous geopolitical stress and security dangers throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate resilience, maintaining positive development momentum over the last few years. While conflicts in the wider region and global economic uncertainty stay a structural restraint, GCC countries have actually so far restricted their effect on domestic economic performance through strong financial positions, policy connection, and continual investment.
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