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Inform technique with evidence: Usage independent data on market self-confidence, growth, and customer need to assist your tactical instructions. Verify investment plans: Guarantee resource allocation and efforts are backed by credible market insight. Speed up confident choices: Equip members of your executive team 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 Major 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 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 strengthens international economic ties with 26 strategic contracts," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign complimentary trade pact 'really soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to at least double annual US financial investments over next decade," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Fact Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are getting in a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Scrutiny is greater. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will increasingly determine which organisations sustain development and which fall behind. In response, Climb Club, an exposure launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level ladies, in partnership with BusinessDay, is releasing a new month-to-month 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 combines board specialists to analyze the real pressures shaping board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Risks and Top Priorities Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulative and governance expectations Innovation interruption and cyber resilience Long-term value production and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers consist of: Mediator 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 directly to governance, risk oversight, and strategic direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are purposefully producing a recurring online forum that surfaces board-level insight, amplifies reliable female governance voices, and expands access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
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The GCC ETF market entered Q1 2026 in a consolidation phase, with activity remaining raised however development slowing down. Overall properties held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued rearranging and as a response to geopolitical news instead of a meaningful brand-new capital deployment. Global macro conditions set a challenging backdrop.
The GCC ETF universe consisted of 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Performance throughout the marketplace was broadly negative, with only 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. In general, the information reflects a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a little subset of items.
The Impact of Remote Deal With UAE Talent RetentionEfficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in particular country direct exposures and commodities, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resistant during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching new highs amidst greater oil rates, as well as its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
Egypt provided 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 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 likewise faced more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more cautious policy backdrop in China and global risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy prices. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the a lot of part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as appraisal pressures and international rate characteristics weighed on efficiency.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly concentrated, reflecting selective allotment rather than broad market participation. In spite of weak efficiency, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of items bring in brand-new capital.
Trading activity remained consistent, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have taken location in the secondary market, allowing financiers to change positions without significant primary creations or redemptions. While current geopolitical occasions have actually resulted in more monetary pressure on GCC nations, the region remains resilient and well capitalized to deal with the circumstance.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic direct exposure focused on worldwide luxury and customer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development associating with ETFs in the GCC. We expect more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the conflict has actually impacted belief and prices throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional assets.
Assessing the Possible of Saudi Arabia's Emerging Urban HubsDespite continuous geopolitical stress and security threats throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show strength, keeping positive growth momentum recently. While conflicts in the broader area and international economic uncertainty remain a structural constraint, GCC nations have so far limited their effect on domestic economic performance through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and continual investment.
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