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Inform strategy with evidence: Use independent information on market self-confidence, development, and client demand to assist your strategic instructions. Confirm financial investment plans: Make sure resource allowance and initiatives are backed by reputable market insight. Accelerate positive decisions: Gear up members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement quickly and take decisive action.
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 Declaration on Economic Cooperation In Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," May 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Passage (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program reinforces global financial ties with 26 tactical agreements," 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 plans to a minimum of double annual US investments over next decade," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Truth Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards throughout Africa are going into a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is higher. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will increasingly identify which organisations sustain development and which fall behind. In reaction, Ascent Club, a visibility launchpad curating gain access to and opportunities for board- and C-level ladies, in cooperation with BusinessDay, is introducing a new regular monthly boardroom discussion convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and business leadership and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session combines board practitioners to examine the real pressures forming board programs today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Concerns Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulatory and governance expectations Innovation interruption and cyber durability Long-lasting value creation and sustainability imperatives Leadership 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 Handling Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.
Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is an assembling of executives contributing directly to governance, danger oversight, and tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this partnership, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are intentionally producing a recurring online forum that surface areas board-level insight, enhances reliable female governance voices, and broadens access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
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The GCC ETF market gone into Q1 2026 in a debt consolidation phase, with activity remaining elevated however growth slowing. Total properties held broadly steady over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news instead of a meaningful brand-new capital deployment. Global macro conditions set a tough background.
The GCC ETF universe consisted of 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency throughout the market was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decline. Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength.
Egypt delivered strong efficiency in January and February. Despite 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 improved the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also dealt with wider macro headwinds, consisting of a more mindful policy backdrop in China and global risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical stress and higher energy costs. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the many part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as evaluation pressures and global rate characteristics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF substantially outperformed. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, showing selective allowance instead of broad market involvement. Despite weak performance, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of products drawing in new capital. This suggests that investors were targeting particular exposures, while minimizing or rotating 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 actually taken location in the secondary market, making it possible for investors to adjust positions without significant primary developments or redemptions.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic exposure focused on global luxury and consumer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress associating with ETFs in the GCC. We expect more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the conflict has impacted belief and prices throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in regional assets.
Evaluating Industrial Strategy Frameworks within the GCCRegardless of continuous geopolitical stress and security risks across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show durability, preserving positive growth momentum recently. While conflicts in the wider region and worldwide economic unpredictability remain a structural restriction, GCC countries have so far limited their impact on domestic financial efficiency through strong fiscal positions, policy connection, and continual investment.
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