Driving Strategic Excellence in the Middle East

Inform method with proof: Use independent information on market confidence, growth, and customer need to guide your tactical direction. Verify investment strategies: Guarantee resource allotment and efforts are backed by trustworthy market insight. Speed up positive decisions: Gear up members of your executive group with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement 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 Chance to Raise Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Statement on Economic Cooperation Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," Might 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Passage (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program reinforces international economic ties with 26 strategic arrangements," 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 plans to at least double annual US investments over next years," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Fact Sheet: President Donald J.

Boards throughout Africa are entering a specifying cycle. Capital is tighter. Examination is higher. Risk is more interconnected. And the quality of boardroom judgment will increasingly figure out which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In response, Ascent Club, a presence launchpad curating access and chances for board- and C-level women, in cooperation with BusinessDay, is releasing a new regular monthly boardroom dialogue convening accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and business leadership and who are members of Ascent Club.

Why Does Operational Excellence Essential for Future Growth?

This inaugural session unites board professionals to analyze the genuine pressures shaping board programs today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Threats and Priorities Forming 2026 Financial discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulatory and governance expectations Innovation disturbance and cyber resilience Long-lasting worth creation and sustainability imperatives Leadership choices boards should prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers include: Mediator 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 a convening of executives contributing straight to governance, threat oversight, and strategic direction within their organisations. Through this partnership, Ascent Club and BusinessDay are intentionally producing a repeating forum that surface areas board-level insight, amplifies reliable female governance voices, and expands access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's conference rooms.

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Why Is Business Excellence Essential for Future Expansion?

The GCC ETF market entered Q1 2026 in a debt consolidation stage, with activity staying elevated however development slowing. Total possessions held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news instead of a significant new capital implementation. International macro conditions set a tough backdrop.

The outcome was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional pattern. Oil related possessions did well for the many part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Absolute High-end ETF introduced on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. Also in Q1, 2 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 consisted of 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency throughout the market was broadly unfavorable, with just 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decline. Overall, the information reflects a market that is active however narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a small subset of items.

Efficiency in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in specific nation direct exposures and commodities, especially Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resilient throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its local market, with Aramco reaching new highs amid greater oil costs, in addition to its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays open.

Essential Data From Latest Regional Market Analysis Reports

Egypt delivered strong performance in January and February. Regardless 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 dealt with wider macro headwinds, including a more cautious policy backdrop in China and worldwide risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy prices. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the a lot of part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as evaluation pressures and global rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.

The petrochemical ETF significantly exceeded. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and highly concentrated, reflecting selective allowance rather than broad market participation. In spite of weak efficiency, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a small number of items bring in new capital. This shows that investors were targeting particular direct exposures, while reducing or turning out of others.

ANSR July GCC PRs 50DR+

Corporate Planning for Middle East Excellence

Trading activity remained consistent, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have taken location in the secondary market, allowing financiers to adjust positions without substantial primary developments or redemptions.

In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic exposure focused on worldwide high-end and consumer brands. ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX.

Q1 2026 revealed some development connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has actually affected sentiment and prices throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in local possessions.

Regardless of ongoing geopolitical tensions and security dangers throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to show strength, preserving favorable growth momentum recently. While disputes in the wider area and worldwide economic unpredictability stay a structural restraint, GCC countries have actually so far limited their effect on domestic economic performance through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and sustained investment.