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Inform strategy with evidence: Usage independent data on market confidence, development, and client demand to guide your tactical instructions. Verify financial investment strategies: Make sure resource allotment and efforts are backed by trustworthy market insight. Speed up positive decisions: Gear up members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement quickly 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 Declaration on Economic Cooperation Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," May 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program reinforces global financial ties with 26 strategic arrangements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to a minimum of double annual US investments over next years," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Truth Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are getting in a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is higher. Risk is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will significantly determine which organisations sustain development and which fall back. In response, Climb Club, a visibility launchpad curating access and opportunities for board- and C-level ladies, in cooperation with BusinessDay, is releasing a brand-new monthly conference room 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 professionals to examine the real pressures forming board programs today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Priorities Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Developing regulatory and governance expectations Innovation disturbance and cyber strength Long-term worth creation and sustainability imperatives Management decisions boards must prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent 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, threat oversight, and strategic instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are deliberately producing a recurring online forum that surfaces board-level insight, enhances reputable female governance voices, and broadens access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
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Total possessions held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a significant brand-new capital release. Worldwide macro conditions set a tough background.
The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency throughout the market was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength.
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 improved the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise faced more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more mindful policy background in China and international risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical stress and higher energy prices. Thematic ETFs also struggled for the many part, especially those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as evaluation pressures and global rate characteristics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF considerably exceeded. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, reflecting selective allocation instead of broad market participation. Regardless of weak performance, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of products attracting new capital. This indicates that financiers were targeting specific direct exposures, while reducing or turning out of others.
Trading activity remained stable, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. Many activity appears to have taken location in the secondary market, making it possible for financiers to adjust positions without substantial main productions or redemptions.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, adding 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 progress connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has actually affected belief and prices during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local possessions.
The Shift Towards Outcome-Based Outsourcing in the GCCRegardless of ongoing geopolitical stress and security dangers throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show strength, maintaining favorable growth momentum in the last few years. While disputes in the broader region and worldwide economic uncertainty stay a structural constraint, GCC nations have actually up until now limited their effect on domestic economic performance through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and continual financial investment.
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