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Inform strategy with proof: Usage independent information on market self-confidence, development, and client demand to assist your tactical instructions. Confirm financial investment plans: Guarantee resource allotment and efforts are backed by trustworthy market insight. Accelerate positive choices: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement rapidly 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 Statement 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 Passage (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme strengthens global financial ties with 26 strategic arrangements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign totally free trade pact 'really quickly'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to at least double annual United States investments over next years," 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 across Africa are getting in a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Scrutiny is greater. Danger is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will significantly determine which organisations sustain growth and which fall back. In response, Ascent Club, a visibility launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level women, in partnership with BusinessDay, is launching a brand-new month-to-month conference room dialogue convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and business leadership and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session brings together board practitioners to analyze the real pressures shaping board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Risks and Priorities Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulative and governance expectations Innovation interruption and cyber resilience Long-lasting value development and sustainability imperatives Management decisions boards must prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers include: Mediator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Managing Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.
Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is a convening of executives contributing directly to governance, threat oversight, and tactical direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are purposefully creating a recurring online forum that surface areas board-level insight, enhances reputable female governance voices, and broadens access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
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The GCC ETF market gone into Q1 2026 in a combination phase, with activity remaining raised however growth slowing down. Overall assets held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful brand-new capital release. Global macro conditions set a tough background.
The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Performance across the market was broadly unfavorable, with only 13 ETFs delivering favorable returns compared to 26 in decrease. Overall, the information reflects a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a little subset of items.
How Emerging Saudi Hubs Are Drawing In Global InvestmentPerformance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in particular nation direct exposures and products, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resilient throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching new highs amid higher oil rates, in addition to its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
Egypt provided strong efficiency in January and February. Regardless of 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 also faced broader macro headwinds, including a more careful policy backdrop in China and international risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical stress and higher energy costs. Thematic ETFs likewise struggled for the most part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as assessment pressures and global rate dynamics weighed on performance.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, reflecting selective allowance rather than broad market participation. In spite of weak performance, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of products drawing in new capital.
Trading activity stayed consistent, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have taken location in the secondary market, allowing investors to adjust positions without substantial main developments or redemptions.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a 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 international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has impacted sentiment and costs throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local assets.
The Service Case for Co-Sourcing in the 2026 GCCRegardless of continuous geopolitical stress and security risks across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show strength, maintaining favorable development momentum recently. While conflicts in the wider region and worldwide economic uncertainty remain a structural constraint, GCC nations have so far limited their influence on domestic financial performance through strong financial positions, policy connection, and sustained investment.
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