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Notify method with proof: Usage independent information on market self-confidence, development, and customer demand to direct your tactical instructions. Confirm financial investment plans: Make sure resource allotment and initiatives are backed by credible market insight. Accelerate confident choices: Equip members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement quickly and take decisive action.

1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Opportunity to Raise 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) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program strengthens global financial ties with 26 strategic agreements," 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 prepares to a minimum of double yearly US investments over next decade," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Reality Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are entering a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is greater. Risk is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will increasingly identify which organisations sustain growth and which fall back. In response, Ascent Club, an exposure launchpad curating gain access to and opportunities for board- and C-level women, in cooperation with BusinessDay, is introducing a brand-new monthly conference room dialogue convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and corporate management and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session unites board specialists to examine the real pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Threats and Concerns Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Developing regulatory and governance expectations Technology interruption and cyber resilience Long-term worth creation and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards must prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent 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 strategic direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are deliberately producing a repeating 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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The GCC ETF market entered Q1 2026 in a debt consolidation stage, with activity remaining elevated however development slowing. Overall properties held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news instead of a meaningful new capital implementation. Worldwide macro conditions set a challenging background.
The result was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional trend. Oil associated possessions did well for the most part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Absolute High-end ETF introduced 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 are about to be approved by the Abu Dhabi Stock Market (ADX). The GCC ETF universe consisted of 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency throughout the market was broadly unfavorable, with only 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength.
Egypt provided strong efficiency 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 dispute and resulting energy shock have reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also dealt with wider macro headwinds, including a more careful policy background in China and international risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy rates. Thematic ETFs also struggled for the many part, especially those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as valuation pressures and international rate dynamics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF considerably surpassed. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, reflecting selective allotment rather than broad market participation. Regardless of weak performance, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of products attracting brand-new capital. This shows that investors were targeting particular direct exposures, while lowering or turning out of others.
Trading activity stayed stable, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. Many activity appears to have taken place in the secondary market, enabling financiers to change positions without significant main developments or redemptions.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, including a specific niche thematic exposure focused on worldwide high-end and customer brands. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the conflict has affected belief and rates throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local properties.
Despite continuous geopolitical stress and security risks throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show durability, keeping favorable growth momentum in recent years. While disputes in the larger region and global economic unpredictability remain a structural restraint, GCC nations have up until now limited their influence on domestic financial efficiency through strong financial positions, policy connection, and sustained investment.
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