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Notify technique with evidence: Usage independent data on market self-confidence, growth, and client need to guide your tactical direction. Verify financial investment plans: Ensure resource allotment and initiatives are backed by credible market insight. Speed up confident decisions: Gear up 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 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)," Might 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme strengthens worldwide financial ties with 26 tactical arrangements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to a minimum of double yearly United States investments over next years," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Fact Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are going into a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is greater. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will significantly determine which organisations sustain development and which fall back. In action, Ascent Club, an exposure launchpad curating access and opportunities for board- and C-level women, in partnership with BusinessDay, is introducing a brand-new regular monthly conference room dialogue assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and business management and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session combines board practitioners to analyze the real pressures shaping board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Risks and Priorities Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulative and governance expectations Technology interruption and cyber strength Long-lasting worth development and sustainability imperatives Management decisions boards need to 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, risk oversight, and tactical direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are intentionally creating a recurring online forum that surfaces board-level insight, amplifies credible female governance voices, and broadens access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
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Overall assets held broadly consistent over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a significant new capital release. Global 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 unfavorable, with only 13 ETFs delivering positive returns compared to 26 in decline. Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength.
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 posted favorable returns for the quarter. The continuous Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have actually reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise faced wider macro headwinds, including a more mindful policy backdrop in China and international risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy prices. Thematic ETFs likewise struggled for the a lot of part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as evaluation pressures and global rate characteristics weighed on efficiency.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely focused, showing selective allocation rather than broad market participation. In spite of weak efficiency, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of items bring in brand-new capital.

Trading activity remained consistent, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. A lot of activity appears to have happened in the secondary market, making it possible for financiers to adjust positions without significant primary developments or redemptions. While current geopolitical events have led to more financial pressure on GCC nations, the region remains resilient and well capitalized to handle the circumstance.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic direct exposure focused on worldwide high-end and consumer brands. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development relating to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has affected sentiment and prices during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in regional assets.
In spite of continuous geopolitical tensions and security risks throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show durability, preserving favorable growth momentum in current years. While conflicts in the wider region and international economic uncertainty stay a structural constraint, GCC countries have up until now limited their influence on domestic economic performance through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and sustained investment.
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