How to Leverage GCC Intelligence for Success

Inform technique with evidence: Use independent information on market confidence, growth, and client need to direct your strategic direction. Validate financial investment strategies: Make sure resource allotment and efforts are backed by reliable market insight. Accelerate confident decisions: Equip members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement quickly and take definitive action.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Major Strategic Chance to Raise 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) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program enhances global financial ties with 26 tactical arrangements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'extremely quickly'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to at least double annual United States financial investments over next decade," May 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.

Boards throughout Africa are entering a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Scrutiny is greater. Risk is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will significantly determine which organisations sustain growth and which fall back. In reaction, Climb Club, a presence launchpad curating access and opportunities for board- and C-level women, in partnership with BusinessDay, is releasing a new monthly boardroom discussion convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and business leadership and who are members of Climb Club.

Advanced Planning for Regional Excellence

This inaugural session unites board professionals to take a look at the genuine pressures shaping board programs today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Concerns Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulatory and governance expectations Technology disruption and cyber durability Long-lasting worth creation and sustainability imperatives Leadership choices boards need to prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers include: Moderator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Managing Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is an assembling of executives contributing straight to governance, threat oversight, and strategic direction within their organisations. Through this partnership, Climb Club and BusinessDay are intentionally producing a recurring online forum that surfaces board-level insight, enhances trustworthy female governance voices, and expands access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.

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Comparing Innovative Strategies Versus Legacy Frameworks

Total properties held broadly stable over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful brand-new capital implementation. International macro conditions set a challenging backdrop.

The result was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional pattern. Oil related assets succeeded for the most part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Outright Luxury ETF released on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. Likewise in Q1, two more Kraneshares have actually been authorized 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 a total 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 decrease. Overall, the information reflects a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a small subset of items.

Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in specific nation exposures and products, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resilient during the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs amidst greater oil rates, along with its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays open.

How Is Operational Excellence Vital for 2026 Expansion?

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 published favorable 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 likewise dealt with more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more careful policy backdrop in China and international risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical stress and higher energy costs. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the most part, especially those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as appraisal pressures and worldwide rate characteristics weighed on performance.

The petrochemical ETF significantly outperformed. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly concentrated, reflecting selective allotment instead of broad market involvement. Regardless of weak performance, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of items attracting brand-new capital. This shows that investors were targeting particular direct exposures, while lowering or turning out of others.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Corporate Strategy for Regional Leadership

Trading activity stayed steady, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. A lot of activity appears to have actually happened in the secondary market, enabling investors to change positions without significant main developments or redemptions. While recent geopolitical occasions have led to more financial pressure on GCC nations, the region remains durable and well capitalized to deal with the circumstance.

In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic exposure focused on global high-end and consumer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.

Q1 2026 revealed some progress connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has affected belief and costs during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local assets.

Despite continuous geopolitical tensions and security threats across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate strength, maintaining positive growth momentum recently. While disputes in the larger region and global economic uncertainty stay a structural constraint, GCC countries have so far restricted their impact on domestic economic performance through strong fiscal positions, policy connection, and continual investment.