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Notify method with proof: Use independent information on market confidence, growth, and client need to guide your strategic direction. Verify investment plans: Guarantee resource allocation and efforts are backed by reliable market insight. Accelerate positive choices: Gear up members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach contract quickly and take decisive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA in between the GCC and the UK is a Significant 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 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 program enhances worldwide financial ties with 26 strategic agreements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign free trade pact 'extremely soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA plans to a minimum of double annual US financial investments over next years," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Truth Sheet: President Donald J.
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The GCC ETF market gone into Q1 2026 in a debt consolidation stage, with activity remaining elevated however growth slowing down. Overall assets held broadly steady over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful new capital deployment. Global macro conditions set a difficult backdrop.
The outcome was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional pattern. Oil related properties succeeded for the a lot of part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Outright Luxury ETF launched on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. In Q1, two more Kraneshares have been approved 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 consisted of 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Performance across the marketplace was broadly negative, with only 13 ETFs providing favorable returns compared to 26 in decline. Overall, the information shows a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a little subset of products.
Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in particular nation direct exposures and commodities, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resilient throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching new highs amid higher oil rates, in addition to its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
Egypt provided strong performance 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 actually improved the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also faced wider macro headwinds, including a more cautious policy background in China and worldwide risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy prices. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the a lot of part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as valuation pressures and international rate characteristics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF considerably surpassed. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely focused, showing selective allowance rather than broad market participation. Regardless of weak efficiency, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of products attracting new capital. This indicates that financiers were targeting particular exposures, while minimizing or rotating out of others.
Trading activity stayed stable, 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 taken place in the secondary market, allowing investors to adjust positions without significant main creations or redemptions. While recent geopolitical events have actually led to more monetary pressure on GCC countries, the region stays resilient and well capitalized to handle the situation.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic direct exposure concentrated on international high-end and consumer brands. Momentum continued into April with the approval of KraneShares AGIX and KWIN ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX. These funds are expected to launch in April pending a final approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has affected belief and prices during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in regional assets.
In spite of continuous geopolitical stress and security dangers across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate durability, keeping positive development momentum over the last few years. While disputes in the larger region and worldwide financial uncertainty stay a structural restraint, GCC countries have actually so far limited their impact on domestic financial efficiency through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and continual financial investment.
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