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The Strategic Benefits of Advanced Strategy Intelligence
Expert Advice Regarding Managing Regional Market Complexity
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Inform method with proof: Usage independent information on market self-confidence, growth, and client need to direct your tactical direction. Validate financial investment plans: Ensure resource allowance and efforts are backed by reputable market insight. Speed up confident choices: Gear up members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach agreement rapidly 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 Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," May 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme enhances worldwide financial ties with 26 tactical arrangements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to at least double annual United States financial investments over next years," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial 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 specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is higher. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will increasingly figure out which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In action, 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 monthly boardroom dialogue convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and business leadership and who are members of Climb Club.
This inaugural session unites board professionals to examine the real pressures forming board programs today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Risks and Concerns Forming 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulative and governance expectations Innovation disruption and cyber durability Long-term worth production and sustainability imperatives Leadership choices boards need to prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers consist of: Moderator 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 straight to governance, threat oversight, and tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are intentionally producing a repeating forum that surface areas board-level insight, enhances credible female governance voices, and broadens access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
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Overall assets held broadly consistent over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful brand-new capital deployment. Worldwide macro conditions set a difficult background.
The outcome was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional pattern. Oil associated assets did well for the a lot of part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Absolute High-end ETF released on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. In Q1, two more Kraneshares have actually 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 comprised 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency across the marketplace was broadly negative, with only 13 ETFs delivering favorable returns compared to 26 in decrease. Overall, the data shows a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a small subset of products.
Why Future-Focused Strategy Reshapes the Regional EconomyEfficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in particular country direct exposures and products, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resilient throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching brand-new highs in the middle of higher oil prices, in addition to its continued ability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays open.
Egypt delivered strong performance 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 favorable returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East dispute and resulting energy shock have actually reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise faced broader macro headwinds, including a more mindful policy backdrop in China and worldwide risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy costs. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the a lot of part, especially those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as assessment pressures and worldwide rate characteristics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF substantially outshined. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, reflecting selective allotment instead of broad market participation. Despite weak performance, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of items attracting new capital. This indicates that investors were targeting particular direct exposures, while reducing or turning out of others.

Trading activity stayed constant, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have taken location in the secondary market, enabling investors to adjust positions without substantial primary developments or redemptions. While recent geopolitical events have led to more financial pressure on GCC nations, the region stays durable and well capitalized to deal with the scenario.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic direct exposure focused on worldwide 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 release in April pending a last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some progress connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has impacted sentiment and rates during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in regional possessions.
Despite ongoing geopolitical stress and security dangers throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to demonstrate resilience, keeping positive development momentum in the last few years. While disputes in the wider area and worldwide economic unpredictability remain a structural restraint, GCC nations have actually up until now restricted their impact on domestic financial performance through strong fiscal positions, policy connection, and sustained investment.
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