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Notify technique with evidence: Usage independent information on market confidence, development, and customer demand to assist your strategic instructions. Validate financial investment strategies: Ensure resource allotment and efforts are backed by trustworthy market insight. Speed up confident decisions: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach contract rapidly and take decisive action.

1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA in between the GCC and the UK is a Major Strategic Chance to Elevate Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Declaration on Economic Cooperation 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) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program strengthens international economic ties with 26 strategic contracts," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign complimentary trade pact 'extremely 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 financial investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Reality Sheet: President Donald J.
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The GCC ETF market gone into Q1 2026 in a debt consolidation stage, with activity remaining raised however growth slowing. Overall properties held broadly consistent over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued rearranging and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a significant new capital implementation. International macro conditions set a difficult backdrop.
The outcome was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional pattern. Oil related assets did well for the a lot of part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Outright Luxury ETF released on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. Likewise in Q1, two more Kraneshares have actually been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and will be authorized by the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (ADX). The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Efficiency throughout the market was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs delivering favorable returns compared to 26 in decrease. In general, the information shows a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a small subset of products.
Why AI Transformation Does Drive Success?Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in specific country exposures and products, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were durable throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs in the middle of greater oil costs, as well as its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
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 published positive returns for the quarter. The continuous Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also faced wider macro headwinds, including a more cautious policy background in China and worldwide risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy rates. Thematic ETFs likewise struggled for the most part, especially those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as appraisal pressures and global rate characteristics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF significantly exceeded. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, reflecting selective allowance instead of broad market participation. In spite of weak performance, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of products drawing in brand-new capital. This suggests that investors were targeting specific direct exposures, while lowering or rotating out of others.

Trading activity stayed stable, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. Most activity appears to have occurred in the secondary market, allowing financiers to adjust positions without significant primary creations or redemptions. While recent geopolitical events have actually resulted in more financial pressure on GCC countries, the region remains resilient and well capitalized to handle the scenario.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic exposure concentrated on global high-end and customer 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 anticipated to launch in April pending a last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress relating to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has impacted belief and costs during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local assets.
Why AI Transformation Does Drive Success?Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and security threats throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show resilience, preserving favorable growth momentum in recent years. While conflicts in the broader area and international financial unpredictability stay a structural restraint, GCC nations have actually up until now limited their impact on domestic economic efficiency through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and sustained investment.
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