Advanced Planning for Middle East Success

Notify strategy with evidence: Use independent data on market self-confidence, growth, and client need to guide your strategic instructions. Verify financial investment strategies: Make sure resource allocation and initiatives are backed by reliable market insight. Accelerate positive choices: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement rapidly and take definitive action.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Opportunity 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)," May 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme reinforces international economic ties with 26 tactical arrangements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign complimentary trade pact 'soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to a minimum of double yearly United States investments over next decade," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Reality Sheet: President Donald J.

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ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

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Advanced Strategy for Middle East Excellence

Overall assets held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful new capital deployment. Global macro conditions set a challenging background.

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 negative, with just 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decline. Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength.

Achieving Operational Excellence in the GCC

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 continuous Middle East dispute and resulting energy shock have reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.

The sector also dealt with wider macro headwinds, consisting of a more careful policy background in China and global risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy costs. Thematic ETFs also struggled for the most part, especially those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as evaluation pressures and global rate dynamics weighed on performance.

Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, showing selective allocation rather than broad market participation. Regardless of weak performance, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of products attracting brand-new capital.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Corporate Strategy for Regional Leadership

Trading activity remained constant, 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 place in the secondary market, making it possible for investors to adjust positions without considerable main productions or redemptions.

In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic exposure concentrated on worldwide high-end and consumer 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 expected to launch in April pending a last approval from ADX.

Q1 2026 showed some development relating to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the conflict has affected sentiment and rates during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in regional properties.

Despite continuous geopolitical stress and security risks throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate durability, keeping positive growth momentum in recent years. While disputes in the broader region and worldwide economic uncertainty stay a structural restriction, GCC countries have so far limited their effect on domestic economic efficiency through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and continual financial investment.