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Inform technique with proof: Usage independent information on market self-confidence, development, and client demand to assist your strategic direction. Confirm financial investment plans: Guarantee resource allowance and initiatives are backed by reliable market insight. Accelerate confident 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 Opportunity to Elevate Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Declaration on Economic Cooperation In Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," Might 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 arrangements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign complimentary trade pact 'very soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to at least double yearly US financial investments over next years," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Fact Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are getting in a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is higher. Danger is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will increasingly figure out which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In action, Climb Club, an exposure launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level females, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is launching a new month-to-month conference room discussion assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and business management and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session combines board specialists to take a look at the real pressures shaping board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Threats and Top Priorities Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulative and governance expectations Innovation interruption and cyber resilience Long-term worth production and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards must prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers consist of: Moderator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Managing Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.
Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is an assembling of executives contributing straight to governance, risk oversight, and tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this partnership, Climb Club and BusinessDay are intentionally creating a recurring forum that surfaces board-level insight, enhances trustworthy female governance voices, and expands access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
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The GCC ETF market entered Q1 2026 in a debt consolidation phase, with activity remaining raised however growth slowing down. Overall possessions held broadly consistent over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a significant new capital implementation. Global macro conditions set a difficult backdrop.
The GCC ETF universe made up 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Performance across the marketplace was broadly unfavorable, with only 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. Overall, the information shows a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a small subset of items.
Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in specific nation direct exposures and commodities, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resistant during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching new highs amid greater oil costs, as well as its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
Egypt delivered strong performance in January and February. Despite a market pullback in March due to the war, both Egypt's market and its ETFs still published positive returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise dealt with broader macro headwinds, including a more careful policy backdrop in China and global risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy prices. Thematic ETFs likewise struggled for the most part, especially those connected to carbon and high-growth innovation, as valuation pressures and global rate characteristics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF considerably surpassed. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and highly concentrated, reflecting selective allocation instead of broad market involvement. Regardless of weak performance, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of products drawing in new capital. This suggests that investors were targeting particular direct exposures, while minimizing or turning out of others.
Trading activity stayed consistent, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. A lot of activity appears to have taken place in the secondary market, making it possible for financiers 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 concentrated on worldwide high-end and consumer brands. Momentum continued into April with the approval of KraneShares AGIX and KWIN ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX. These funds are anticipated to release in April pending a last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some development associating with ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has affected belief and costs throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local properties.
What UAE Employees In Fact Desired in 2026In spite of ongoing geopolitical stress and security dangers throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show strength, keeping positive development momentum in the last few years. While conflicts in the wider region and worldwide economic unpredictability stay a structural constraint, GCC nations have up until now limited their influence on domestic economic performance through strong fiscal positions, policy connection, and continual investment.
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