Leading the 2026 Regional Economic Landscape for Leaders

Notify strategy with evidence: Usage independent information on market confidence, development, and client need to assist your strategic instructions. Confirm financial investment strategies: Guarantee resource allotment and efforts are backed by reliable market insight. Accelerate confident decisions: Equip members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach contract quickly and take decisive action.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

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 Statement on Economic Cooperation 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) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program enhances global financial ties with 26 tactical contracts," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign free trade pact 'very quickly'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to a minimum of 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 getting in a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Analysis is higher. Danger is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will significantly figure out which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In response, Ascent Club, an exposure launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level women, in partnership with BusinessDay, is releasing a brand-new month-to-month conference room dialogue assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the greatest levels of governance and corporate management and who are members of Ascent Club.

Advanced Strategy for GCC Success

This inaugural session brings together board professionals to analyze the real pressures forming board agendas today: INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM: The Strategic Risks and Priorities Shaping 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Progressing regulative and governance expectations Technology disturbance and cyber resilience Long-lasting worth creation and sustainability imperatives Management decisions boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Climb members and speakers include: Moderator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Managing Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is an assembling of executives contributing straight to governance, risk oversight, and tactical instructions within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are intentionally producing a recurring online forum that surface areas board-level insight, magnifies reliable female governance voices, and expands access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.

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How to Utilize GCC Intelligence for 2026 Success

The GCC ETF market gone into Q1 2026 in a combination phase, with activity staying raised however growth slowing down. Total assets held broadly steady over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful new capital release. Global macro conditions set a difficult background.

The GCC ETF universe made up 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency throughout the market was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs providing favorable returns compared to 26 in decline. Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength.

Advanced Strategy for Middle East Excellence

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 positive returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East dispute and resulting energy shock have actually reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.

The sector also faced more comprehensive macro headwinds, consisting of a more cautious policy backdrop in China and worldwide risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy costs. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the a lot of part, especially those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as valuation pressures and worldwide rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.

The petrochemical ETF considerably outperformed. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly concentrated, showing selective allowance rather than broad market involvement. Despite weak efficiency, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of products bring in new capital. This suggests that financiers were targeting specific direct exposures, while reducing or turning out of others.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Driving Strategic Excellence in the Middle East

Trading activity remained consistent, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. Many activity appears to have taken location in the secondary market, making it possible for financiers to change positions without considerable primary creations or redemptions. While recent geopolitical events have led to more monetary pressure on GCC nations, the area remains resilient and well capitalized to deal with the situation.

In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a specific niche thematic exposure focused on international luxury and customer brand names. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.

Q1 2026 revealed some progress connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has impacted sentiment and rates during the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in regional possessions.

Despite continuous geopolitical stress and security risks throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show resilience, preserving positive development momentum in the last few years. While disputes in the broader region and international financial uncertainty remain a structural restraint, GCC countries have actually so far limited their effect on domestic economic performance through strong financial positions, policy connection, and continual investment.