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Inform strategy with proof: Usage independent information on market confidence, development, and client demand to guide your strategic instructions. Confirm investment plans: Ensure resource allotment and efforts are backed by reliable market insight. Accelerate positive decisions: Equip members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement rapidly and take decisive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA in between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Chance to Elevate Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Declaration on Economic Cooperation In Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," Might 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program enhances global economic ties with 26 tactical arrangements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign free trade pact 'extremely soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to a minimum of double yearly United States financial investments over next decade," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Fact Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are getting in a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Scrutiny is higher. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will increasingly identify which organisations sustain development and which fall behind. In reaction, Climb Club, an exposure launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level females, in partnership with BusinessDay, is releasing a new monthly conference room dialogue assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and corporate management and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session brings together board professionals to analyze the real pressures shaping board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Risks and Priorities Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Developing regulative and governance expectations Innovation interruption and cyber durability Long-term worth creation and sustainability imperatives Management decisions boards must prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers include: 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 intentionally creating a recurring online forum that surface areas board-level insight, enhances credible female governance voices, and broadens access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
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Total properties held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful new capital release. International macro conditions set a difficult backdrop.
The result was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional pattern. Oil related possessions succeeded for the many part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Outright High-end ETF introduced on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. In Q1, 2 more Kraneshares have been authorized for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and will be approved by the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (ADX). The GCC ETF universe made up 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency across the market was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength.
Egypt provided strong performance in January and February. In spite of 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 dispute and resulting energy shock have improved 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 mindful policy background in China and international risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy rates. Thematic ETFs also had a hard time for the most part, especially those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as evaluation pressures and worldwide rate characteristics weighed on efficiency.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, showing selective allocation rather than broad market involvement. Regardless of weak performance, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of products bring in new capital.
Trading activity stayed consistent, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. Many activity appears to have actually taken location in the secondary market, making it possible for investors to adjust positions without significant main productions or redemptions.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic direct exposure focused on worldwide high-end and consumer brands. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress associating with ETFs in the GCC. We expect more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has affected belief and rates during the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in local properties.
Managing Regulatory Dangers Within the Qatari Market SpaceDespite continuous geopolitical tensions and security dangers throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show durability, keeping favorable development momentum in the last few years. While disputes in the broader region and worldwide economic unpredictability stay a structural restraint, GCC nations have up until now limited their influence on domestic financial performance through strong fiscal positions, policy connection, and sustained investment.
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