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Notify technique with evidence: Use independent data on market self-confidence, growth, and customer demand to direct your tactical direction. Validate investment strategies: Guarantee resource allowance and efforts are backed by reputable market insight. Accelerate positive decisions: 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 Significant Strategic Opportunity to Raise Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Declaration on Economic Cooperation In Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," Might 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program strengthens international economic ties with 26 strategic 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 plans to at least double yearly 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, "Reality Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are entering a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Scrutiny is higher. Threat is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will progressively determine which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In response, Climb Club, a presence launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level ladies, in partnership with BusinessDay, is launching a new month-to-month boardroom dialogue assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and corporate leadership and who are members of Climb Club.
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Overall possessions held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a significant new capital implementation. International macro conditions set a challenging background.
The result was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional trend. Oil related assets succeeded for the most part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Outright Luxury ETF launched on ADX to add 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 a total AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Performance throughout the market was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decline. Performance 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. Despite 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 dispute and resulting energy shock have reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise dealt with broader macro headwinds, including a more careful policy backdrop in China and international risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy prices. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the most part, especially those connected to carbon and high-growth innovation, as valuation pressures and international rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF substantially outperformed. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely focused, reflecting selective allotment rather than broad market participation. Regardless of weak efficiency, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of products attracting new capital. This indicates that financiers were targeting specific direct exposures, while decreasing or rotating out of others.
Trading activity remained stable, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. A lot of activity appears to have actually happened in the secondary market, enabling financiers to change positions without substantial primary productions or redemptions. While current geopolitical occasions have led to more monetary pressure on GCC nations, the region remains durable and well capitalized to deal with the situation.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, including a 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 progress connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has actually affected sentiment and rates throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in local assets.
Boosting Regional Industrial Expansion through Strategic ExcellenceRegardless of continuous geopolitical stress and security risks across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show resilience, keeping favorable development momentum in the last few years. While conflicts in the larger region and international financial uncertainty remain a structural restriction, GCC nations have actually up until now limited their effect on domestic financial efficiency through strong fiscal positions, policy connection, and continual investment.
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