Advanced Planning for Middle East Success

Notify strategy with evidence: Usage independent data on market self-confidence, development, and client need to guide your tactical instructions. Verify investment plans: Make sure resource allowance and efforts are backed by credible market insight. Speed up confident choices: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement rapidly and take definitive action.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Capital is tighter. And the quality of conference room judgment will progressively identify which organisations sustain development and which fall behind. In reaction, Ascent Club, an exposure launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level ladies, in cooperation with BusinessDay, is launching a brand-new month-to-month boardroom discussion convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and business management and who are members of Ascent Club.

How to Utilize GCC Intelligence for 2026 Growth

This inaugural session brings together board practitioners to take a look at the genuine pressures shaping board programs today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Threats and Top Priorities Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulatory and governance expectations Innovation disturbance and cyber strength Long-lasting worth creation and sustainability imperatives Management choices boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers consist of: Moderator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Handling Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is an assembling of executives contributing directly to governance, threat oversight, and tactical direction within their organisations. Through this partnership, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are deliberately producing a recurring online forum that surfaces board-level insight, magnifies trustworthy female governance voices, and expands access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.

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Ways to Leverage GCC Intelligence for 2026 Success

Total properties held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful new capital release. Global macro conditions set a difficult background.

The outcome was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional trend. Oil associated properties did well for the most part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Outright High-end ETF released on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. In Q1, 2 more Kraneshares have been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and are about to be authorized by the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (ADX). The GCC ETF universe made up 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Performance throughout the market was broadly negative, with only 13 ETFs delivering 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 items.

Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in specific country exposures and commodities, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resilient throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil direct exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs amidst higher oil costs, as well as its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.

Why Does Business Excellence Vital for Future Growth?

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 ongoing Middle East dispute and resulting energy shock have improved the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.

The sector also faced wider macro headwinds, consisting of a more mindful policy background in China and global risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and higher energy costs. Thematic ETFs also had a hard time for the many part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as appraisal pressures and global rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.

Flows 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 brand-new capital.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

How to Leverage GCC Intelligence for 2026 Growth

Trading activity remained constant, 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 actually taken place in the secondary market, allowing investors to change positions without substantial primary productions or redemptions.

In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic exposure focused on international luxury and customer 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 expected to release in April pending a final approval from ADX.

Q1 2026 showed some progress connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has actually impacted sentiment and rates during the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in local assets.

Regardless of continuous geopolitical tensions and security threats throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate durability, keeping positive growth momentum in current years. While disputes in the broader region and global economic uncertainty remain a structural restraint, GCC nations have actually so far restricted their influence on domestic financial efficiency through strong fiscal positions, policy continuity, and sustained financial investment.