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Inform method with evidence: Use independent data on market self-confidence, growth, and customer need to assist your strategic instructions. Confirm financial investment plans: Make sure resource allowance and efforts are backed by credible market insight. Speed up positive choices: Equip members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement quickly and take decisive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA in between the GCC and the UK is a Major Strategic Chance to Elevate Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Declaration on Economic Cooperation 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 programme strengthens global economic ties with 26 strategic contracts," 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 at least double yearly United States financial investments over next decade," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Reality Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are going into a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Scrutiny is greater. Danger is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will increasingly identify which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In reaction, Ascent Club, a presence launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level females, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is introducing a brand-new monthly conference room discussion assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and business leadership and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session brings together board professionals to examine the real pressures shaping board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Dangers and Concerns Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Developing regulatory and governance expectations Technology disruption and cyber strength Long-lasting value production and sustainability imperatives Leadership decisions boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers consist of: Moderator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Managing Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.
Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is an assembling of executives contributing straight to governance, danger oversight, and tactical direction within their organisations. Through this partnership, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are purposefully developing a repeating online forum that surfaces board-level insight, magnifies reliable female governance voices, and broadens access to the strategic thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.
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The GCC ETF market gone into Q1 2026 in a combination stage, with activity staying elevated however growth slowing. Total properties 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 release. Worldwide macro conditions set a difficult background.
The result was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional pattern. Oil associated assets succeeded for the a lot of part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Outright High-end ETF released on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. In Q1, two more Kraneshares have been authorized for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and will be authorized by the Abu Dhabi Stock Market (ADX). The GCC ETF universe made up 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Performance throughout the market was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs delivering favorable returns compared to 26 in decrease. In general, the information shows a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a little subset of products.
Accelerating Dubai Industrial Growth through InnovationEfficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were concentrated in specific nation exposures and products, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resistant throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching new highs in the middle of higher oil prices, as well as its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which remains open.
Egypt delivered strong efficiency in January and February. In spite of 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 likewise dealt with more comprehensive macro headwinds, including a more mindful policy backdrop in China and global risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy prices. Thematic ETFs likewise struggled for the most part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as evaluation pressures and international rate characteristics weighed on performance.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, showing selective allocation rather than broad market participation. Regardless of weak efficiency, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of items bring in brand-new capital.
Trading activity stayed stable, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. Many activity appears to have happened in the secondary market, allowing financiers to change positions without considerable primary creations or redemptions. While current geopolitical events have actually led to more financial pressure on GCC countries, the region stays resistant and well capitalized to deal with the circumstance.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding 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 anticipate more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has actually affected sentiment and costs throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in local assets.
Accelerating Dubai Industrial Growth through InnovationIn spite of continuous geopolitical stress and security risks throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show resilience, maintaining favorable growth momentum over the last few years. While disputes in the larger area and worldwide financial unpredictability remain a structural constraint, GCC nations have so far limited their effect on domestic economic performance through strong financial positions, policy connection, and continual financial investment.
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