How to Leverage GCC Intelligence for  Growth thumbnail

How to Leverage GCC Intelligence for Growth

Published Aug 23, 26
5 min read


Inform strategy with evidence: Use independent data on market confidence, development, and client need to direct your strategic instructions. Confirm investment strategies: Make sure resource allotment and efforts are backed by trustworthy market insight. Speed up positive decisions: Equip members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach contract quickly and take definitive action.

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1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA in between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Opportunity to Elevate 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)," Might 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Passage (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme strengthens global economic ties with 26 tactical contracts," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign totally free trade pact 'extremely quickly'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans 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, "Truth Sheet: President Donald J.

Boards throughout Africa are entering 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 development and which fall behind. In action, Ascent Club, a visibility launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level women, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is releasing a new month-to-month boardroom discussion convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and corporate leadership and who are members of Climb Club.

Advanced Strategy for Middle East Success

This inaugural session unites board practitioners to analyze the real pressures shaping board programs today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Threats and Priorities Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Developing regulatory and governance expectations Technology interruption and cyber resilience Long-lasting worth development and sustainability imperatives Management decisions boards must prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers consist of: Moderator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Managing Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+


Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is a convening of executives contributing straight to governance, threat oversight, and strategic direction within their organisations. Through this partnership, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are deliberately creating a repeating forum that surfaces board-level insight, enhances credible female governance voices, and expands access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.

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Key Data Within Latest Regional Market Analysis Reports

Total assets held broadly steady over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful brand-new capital deployment. Worldwide macro conditions set a tough background.

The GCC ETF universe consisted of 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Efficiency 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 but narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a little subset of items.

Ensuring Strategic Excellence in Regional Markets

Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in particular country direct exposures and products, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resistant throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs amidst higher oil costs, as well as its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.

Advanced Planning for Regional Excellence

Egypt delivered strong efficiency in January and February. In spite 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 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, consisting of a more careful policy backdrop in China and global risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy costs. Thematic ETFs also had a hard time for the a lot of part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as valuation pressures and worldwide rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.

The petrochemical ETF significantly outshined. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, reflecting selective allotment rather than broad market involvement. In spite of weak performance, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of items attracting brand-new capital. This suggests that financiers were targeting specific direct exposures, while lowering or rotating out of others.

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Why Is Operational Excellence Vital for Future Expansion?

Trading activity remained steady, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. Most activity appears to have actually taken place in the secondary market, making it possible for financiers to change positions without substantial primary productions or redemptions. While recent geopolitical occasions have actually resulted in more monetary pressure on GCC nations, the region stays durable and well capitalized to handle the scenario.

In January, Boreas released its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic exposure concentrated on international high-end and consumer 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 final approval from 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 prices throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local properties.

Why Digital Shift Will Fuel Success?

Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and security dangers across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show resilience, keeping positive development momentum in the last few years. While conflicts in the broader region and worldwide financial unpredictability stay a structural constraint, GCC countries have up until now limited their effect on domestic financial performance through strong fiscal positions, policy connection, and sustained investment.

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