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Notify technique with evidence: Usage independent data on market confidence, development, and client need to direct your tactical instructions. Verify investment strategies: Ensure resource allowance and initiatives are backed by reputable market insight. Accelerate confident choices: Gear up 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 Major Strategic Opportunity to Elevate 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 Corridor (IMEC) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program reinforces international economic ties with 26 tactical agreements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign totally free trade pact 'soon'," 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 years," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Fact Sheet: President Donald J.
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Overall assets held broadly steady over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful new capital implementation. Global macro conditions set a tough background.
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 introduced on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. In Q1, 2 more Kraneshares have been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and will be authorized by the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (ADX). The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Performance throughout the market was broadly negative, 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 provided strong performance in January and February. Regardless of a market pullback in March due to the war, both Egypt's market and its ETFs still posted favorable returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also faced wider macro headwinds, consisting of a more mindful policy backdrop in China and international risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy prices. Thematic ETFs also struggled for the many part, especially those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as evaluation pressures and international rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF considerably outshined. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and highly concentrated, showing selective allowance rather than broad market involvement. In spite of weak efficiency, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of products bring in brand-new capital. This indicates that investors were targeting specific direct exposures, while reducing or rotating out of others.
Trading activity remained steady, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have occurred in the secondary market, enabling investors to adjust positions without considerable primary creations or redemptions. While recent geopolitical occasions have actually led to more financial pressure on GCC nations, the area stays durable and well capitalized to handle the circumstance.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, including a specific niche thematic direct exposure focused on global high-end and consumer brands. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some development associating with ETFs in the GCC. We expect more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has actually impacted belief and rates during the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional properties.
Despite continuous geopolitical stress and security threats across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate resilience, keeping favorable growth momentum in the last few years. While conflicts in the wider area and worldwide economic uncertainty stay a structural restriction, GCC nations have so far restricted their influence on domestic economic performance through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and sustained financial investment.
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