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Notify technique with evidence: Use independent data on market self-confidence, development, and client demand to direct your tactical direction. Verify financial investment plans: Ensure resource allotment and initiatives are backed by reliable market insight. Speed up positive choices: Gear up members of your executive group 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 Raise 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)," May 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Passage (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme strengthens worldwide economic ties with 26 strategic arrangements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign totally free trade pact 'soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to a minimum of double annual United States financial investments over next years," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Reality Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are getting in a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is greater. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will significantly figure out which organisations sustain development and which fall behind. In action, Ascent Club, an exposure launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level females, in partnership with BusinessDay, is releasing a new regular monthly boardroom dialogue convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate management and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session combines board professionals to examine the real pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Concerns Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulatory and governance expectations Technology interruption and cyber durability Long-term worth development and sustainability imperatives Management decisions boards must 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 straight to governance, danger oversight, and strategic instructions within their organisations. Through this partnership, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are intentionally producing a recurring forum that surfaces board-level insight, magnifies reliable female governance voices, and expands access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
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The GCC ETF market gone into Q1 2026 in a debt consolidation stage, with activity remaining elevated but development slowing. Total possessions held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful new capital deployment. Worldwide macro conditions set a challenging background.
The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Performance throughout the market was broadly negative, with only 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. In general, the data reflects a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a small subset of products.
Why Strategic Outsourcing Is a Conference Room Top priority for 2026Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in particular nation exposures and commodities, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resilient during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs amidst greater oil costs, as well as its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays 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 positive returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have actually improved the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise faced wider macro headwinds, including a more cautious policy backdrop in China and international risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy rates. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the most part, especially those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as assessment pressures and international rate characteristics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF substantially surpassed. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, reflecting selective allotment rather than broad market participation. Despite weak efficiency, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of items bring in new capital. This shows that investors were targeting specific exposures, while reducing or rotating out of others.
Trading activity stayed constant, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. Most activity appears to have taken place in the secondary market, allowing financiers to adjust positions without considerable primary productions or redemptions.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic direct exposure concentrated on worldwide 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 anticipated to release in April pending a last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress relating to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has affected sentiment and prices throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional possessions.
Regardless of ongoing geopolitical tensions and security threats across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show resilience, maintaining positive development momentum in the last few years. While disputes in the broader region and worldwide financial unpredictability remain a structural restriction, GCC countries have up until now limited their impact on domestic economic efficiency through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and continual investment.
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