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Inform technique with evidence: Usage independent information on market confidence, development, and client demand to assist your tactical instructions. Validate financial investment strategies: Ensure resource allocation and efforts are backed by reputable market insight. Accelerate confident choices: Gear up members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach contract quickly 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 Statement on Economic Cooperation 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 programme reinforces worldwide financial ties with 26 strategic contracts," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'extremely soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to at least double yearly US financial investments over next years," 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 going into a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is greater. Risk is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will progressively identify which organisations sustain development and which fall behind. In response, Ascent Club, a visibility launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level women, in cooperation with BusinessDay, is releasing a brand-new regular monthly boardroom discussion assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and business leadership and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session brings together board professionals to take a look at the genuine pressures forming board programs today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Risks and Priorities Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Developing regulative and governance expectations Innovation disturbance and cyber resilience Long-term value production and sustainability imperatives Leadership choices boards need to 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 a convening of executives contributing straight to governance, risk oversight, and tactical direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are deliberately producing a recurring forum that surface areas board-level insight, magnifies reliable female governance voices, and expands access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
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Overall properties held broadly steady over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a significant new capital release. Worldwide macro conditions set a challenging backdrop.
The outcome was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional pattern. Oil associated assets succeeded for the most part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Outright High-end ETF launched on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. Also in Q1, 2 more Kraneshares have actually been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and are about to be approved by the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (ADX). The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Performance throughout the market was broadly unfavorable, with only 13 ETFs providing favorable returns compared to 26 in decrease. In general, the data shows a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a little subset of products.
Strategic Planning for Regional ExcellenceEfficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in particular country exposures and products, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resilient throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching new highs amidst higher oil prices, in addition to its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays open.
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 continuous Middle East conflict 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 dealt with wider macro headwinds, consisting of a more cautious policy background in China and global risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical stress and higher energy costs. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the a lot of part, especially those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as appraisal pressures and worldwide rate characteristics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF considerably outperformed. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely focused, reflecting selective allotment instead of broad market involvement. Regardless of weak performance, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of products attracting new capital. This suggests that financiers were targeting specific exposures, while lowering or turning out of others.

Trading activity stayed stable, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. Many activity appears to have taken place in the secondary market, making it possible for financiers to change positions without substantial main creations or redemptions.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic exposure focused on global high-end and customer brands. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress relating to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has actually impacted sentiment and rates throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local possessions.
Strategic Planning for Regional ExcellenceRegardless of ongoing geopolitical tensions and security dangers across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show durability, maintaining favorable growth momentum over the last few years. While conflicts in the broader area and global economic uncertainty stay a structural constraint, GCC nations have up until now restricted their effect on domestic financial performance through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and continual financial investment.
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