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Inform method with evidence: Usage independent information on market confidence, growth, and client need to guide your strategic direction. Validate financial investment plans: Ensure resource allocation and initiatives are backed by trustworthy market insight. Accelerate confident decisions: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement 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 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) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme enhances international financial ties with 26 tactical arrangements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign totally free trade pact 'really 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 decade," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Truth Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are going into a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is greater. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will significantly identify which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In action, Climb Club, a visibility launchpad curating access and opportunities for board- and C-level women, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is launching a brand-new regular monthly boardroom dialogue assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate management and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session combines board practitioners to analyze the real pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Threats and Concerns Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulatory and governance expectations Technology interruption and cyber durability Long-lasting value production and sustainability imperatives Leadership choices boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Climb 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 an assembling of executives contributing straight to governance, danger oversight, and strategic instructions within their organisations. Through this partnership, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are purposefully developing a recurring forum that surface areas board-level insight, magnifies trustworthy female governance voices, and broadens access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
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The GCC ETF market entered Q1 2026 in a debt consolidation stage, with activity remaining elevated but growth slowing down. Total assets held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a response to geopolitical news instead of a meaningful new capital release. Global macro conditions set a tough backdrop.
The GCC ETF universe made up 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency throughout the market was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs providing favorable returns compared to 26 in decline. Overall, the information shows a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a small subset of items.
Long-Term Regional Industrial Growth Models in 2026Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in specific country direct exposures and products, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were durable during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs in the middle of greater oil prices, in addition to its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays open.
Egypt delivered 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 published favorable returns for the quarter. The continuous Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have actually 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 higher energy rates. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the a lot of part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth innovation, as appraisal pressures and international rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, showing selective allowance rather than broad market involvement. Despite weak efficiency, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of products drawing in brand-new capital.

Trading activity stayed stable, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. A lot of activity appears to have taken location in the secondary market, allowing investors to change positions without considerable primary developments or redemptions.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a specific niche thematic direct exposure concentrated on global luxury and consumer brands. 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 release in April pending a final approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has actually impacted sentiment and prices during the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional possessions.
Despite ongoing geopolitical stress and security risks across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show resilience, maintaining positive development momentum in recent years. While disputes in the wider area and global economic uncertainty remain a structural restriction, GCC countries have actually so far restricted their effect on domestic economic performance through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and continual financial investment.
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