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Inform technique with proof: Usage independent data on market confidence, growth, and customer demand to direct your strategic direction. Validate financial investment plans: Make sure resource allowance and initiatives are backed by reliable market insight. Speed up confident decisions: Equip members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement quickly and take definitive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA 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 Countries (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," Might 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Passage (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program reinforces international economic ties with 26 strategic arrangements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign free trade pact 'soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to at least double annual United States investments over next decade," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Fact Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are getting in a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Scrutiny is greater. Danger is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will progressively identify which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In response, Climb Club, a visibility launchpad curating gain access to and opportunities for board- and C-level ladies, in cooperation with BusinessDay, is introducing a new month-to-month conference room discussion convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and business leadership and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session brings together board professionals to analyze the real pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Risks and Top Priorities Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulatory and governance expectations Innovation interruption and cyber strength Long-term value development and sustainability imperatives Management 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 directly to governance, danger oversight, and tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are purposefully creating a repeating online forum that surfaces board-level insight, magnifies credible female governance voices, and broadens access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
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The GCC ETF market gotten in Q1 2026 in a debt consolidation stage, with activity staying elevated however growth slowing down. Total properties held broadly consistent over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a significant brand-new capital deployment. International macro conditions set a tough background.
The outcome was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional trend. Oil related properties did well for the many part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Absolute Luxury ETF introduced on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. Also in Q1, two more Kraneshares have been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and are about to be authorized by the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (ADX). The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency throughout the marketplace was broadly negative, with only 13 ETFs delivering positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. Overall, the information shows a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a small subset of items.
Scaling Shared Providers Without Losing Your One-upmanshipEfficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in specific nation direct exposures and commodities, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were durable during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching new highs amid greater oil rates, in addition to its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
Egypt provided strong efficiency 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 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 also dealt with more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more cautious policy background in China and worldwide risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy prices. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the many part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth innovation, as evaluation pressures and global rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, reflecting selective allocation rather than broad market participation. In spite of weak performance, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of items bring in brand-new capital.
Trading activity remained 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 actually taken place in the secondary market, allowing financiers to change positions without substantial main productions or redemptions.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, including a specific niche thematic exposure focused on global high-end and customer 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 introduce in April pending a final approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has actually impacted sentiment and costs throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in regional possessions.
Scaling Shared Providers Without Losing Your One-upmanshipIn spite of ongoing geopolitical tensions and security risks throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show strength, preserving favorable development momentum in the last few years. While disputes in the broader area and international economic uncertainty stay a structural restraint, GCC nations have up until now restricted their influence on domestic financial performance through strong financial positions, policy connection, and continual investment.
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