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Inform strategy with evidence: Use independent data on market confidence, growth, and client need to direct your strategic direction. Confirm financial investment plans: Guarantee resource allowance and efforts are backed by credible market insight. Accelerate confident 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 between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Chance to Elevate Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Statement on Economic Cooperation In 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) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme enhances worldwide financial ties with 26 strategic contracts," 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 decade," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Truth Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are going into a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Scrutiny is greater. Danger is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will progressively determine which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In action, Climb Club, an exposure launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level females, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is launching a new month-to-month boardroom 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 practitioners to analyze the genuine pressures forming board programs today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Threats and Priorities Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulative and governance expectations Technology interruption and cyber resilience Long-lasting worth production and sustainability imperatives Leadership choices boards need to prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers consist of: 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 tactical direction within their organisations. Through this partnership, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are deliberately producing a repeating online forum that surfaces board-level insight, enhances credible female governance voices, and broadens access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
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The GCC ETF market entered Q1 2026 in a consolidation phase, with activity staying raised but growth slowing. Total assets held broadly consistent over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a significant brand-new capital release. International macro conditions set a difficult background.
The outcome was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional pattern. Oil related assets succeeded for the a lot of part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Outright High-end ETF introduced on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. In Q1, two more Kraneshares have actually been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and will be authorized by the Abu Dhabi Stock Market (ADX). 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 delivering positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength.
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 published 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, including a more cautious policy background in China and worldwide risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy rates. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the most part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as evaluation pressures and global rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF substantially surpassed. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly concentrated, showing selective allotment rather than broad market participation. Despite weak performance, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of items attracting brand-new capital. This indicates that financiers were targeting particular exposures, while reducing or turning out of others.
Trading activity remained constant, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have actually taken place in the secondary market, enabling financiers to change positions without significant main creations or redemptions.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic direct exposure concentrated on international luxury and customer brand names. 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 launch in April pending a final approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some progress connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has actually impacted belief and costs during the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional properties.
Implementing GCC Corporate Frameworks for Scalable SuccessRegardless of continuous geopolitical stress and security threats 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 disputes in the wider region and global financial unpredictability remain a structural constraint, GCC countries have actually so far restricted their effect on domestic economic efficiency through strong fiscal positions, policy connection, and continual financial investment.
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