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Inform strategy with proof: Use independent data on market self-confidence, development, and customer demand to assist your strategic instructions. Validate financial investment plans: Guarantee resource allocation and initiatives are backed by reputable market insight. Speed up confident decisions: Gear up members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach contract rapidly and take definitive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA in between the GCC and the UK is a Major Strategic Opportunity to Elevate 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 Passage (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program reinforces international economic ties with 26 tactical agreements," 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 a minimum of double yearly United States investments over next years," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest financier," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Fact Sheet: President Donald J.
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Overall properties held broadly steady over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued rearranging and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a significant new capital deployment. Global macro conditions set a difficult backdrop.
The outcome was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional pattern. Oil related assets succeeded for the many part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Absolute Luxury ETF introduced on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. Likewise in Q1, two more Kraneshares have actually been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and are about to be approved by the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (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 only 13 ETFs delivering 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.
Egypt provided strong efficiency in January and February. Regardless 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 reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also dealt with wider macro headwinds, including a more careful policy background in China and worldwide risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy costs. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the most part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as evaluation pressures and global rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
The petrochemical ETF significantly outperformed. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely focused, reflecting selective allotment rather than broad market participation. In spite of weak performance, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of products drawing in new capital. This shows that investors were targeting specific direct exposures, while reducing or rotating out of others.
Trading activity stayed consistent, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. A lot of activity appears to have happened in the secondary market, making it possible for financiers to change positions without considerable primary developments or redemptions. While recent geopolitical events have actually resulted in more monetary pressure on GCC countries, the region stays resilient and well capitalized to deal with the situation.
In January, Boreas launched its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a niche thematic direct exposure focused on international high-end and customer brand names. Momentum continued into April with the approval of KraneShares AGIX and KWIN ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX. These funds are anticipated to release in April pending a last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress associating with ETFs in the GCC. We expect more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the conflict has impacted sentiment and costs throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local possessions.
Corporate Agility in a Evolving GCC MarketIn spite of ongoing geopolitical tensions and security threats across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show durability, keeping favorable development momentum recently. While disputes in the wider area and international economic unpredictability remain a structural restriction, GCC countries have so far restricted their effect on domestic economic efficiency through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and sustained financial investment.
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