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Inform strategy with evidence: Usage independent information on market self-confidence, development, and client need to direct your strategic instructions. Validate financial investment plans: Make sure resource allowance and initiatives are backed by reliable market insight. Accelerate confident decisions: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement rapidly and take decisive action.

1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Major Strategic Opportunity to Raise Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Statement on Economic Cooperation 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 strengthens worldwide economic ties with 26 tactical agreements," 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 prepares to a minimum of double annual United States investments over next years," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Reality Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are going into a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is higher. Danger is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will increasingly identify which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In response, Ascent Club, a visibility launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level ladies, in partnership with BusinessDay, is introducing a new regular monthly boardroom dialogue convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and business management and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session unites board professionals to take a look at the real pressures forming board programs today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Threats and Top Priorities Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulatory and governance expectations Innovation interruption and cyber strength Long-lasting value creation and sustainability imperatives Management decisions boards need to prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers include: Mediator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Handling Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.

Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is a convening of executives contributing straight to governance, danger oversight, and strategic direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are intentionally producing a repeating online forum that surfaces board-level insight, enhances reliable female governance voices, and expands access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
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Overall properties held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful brand-new capital release. Global macro conditions set a tough background.
The outcome was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional pattern. Oil related properties did well for the most part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Outright Luxury ETF launched on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. In Q1, 2 more Kraneshares have actually been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and are about to be approved by the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (ADX). 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 favorable returns compared to 26 in decline. Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength.
Egypt delivered strong performance in January and February. Regardless of a market pullback in March due to the war, both Egypt's market and its ETFs still posted positive returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have actually reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise dealt with wider macro headwinds, including a more cautious policy backdrop in China and worldwide risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy costs. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the a lot of part, especially those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as appraisal pressures and worldwide rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF significantly outshined. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely focused, reflecting selective allocation rather than broad market participation. Despite weak performance, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of items attracting new capital. This indicates that investors were targeting particular exposures, while decreasing or rotating out of others.

Trading activity remained constant, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. Most activity appears to have taken location in the secondary market, enabling investors to change positions without substantial primary creations or redemptions.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a specific niche thematic exposure focused on worldwide high-end and consumer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some development associating with ETFs in the GCC. We expect more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has affected sentiment and rates during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local properties.
In spite of ongoing geopolitical stress and security threats across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show resilience, keeping favorable development momentum in the last few years. While disputes in the wider area and worldwide economic uncertainty remain a structural restraint, GCC nations have so far restricted their effect on domestic financial performance through strong financial positions, policy connection, and continual financial investment.
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