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Notify technique with proof: Usage independent information on market self-confidence, development, and customer demand to direct your strategic direction. Validate financial investment plans: Ensure resource allocation and initiatives are backed by credible market insight. Speed up confident decisions: Gear up members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement quickly and take definitive action.
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 Declaration on Economic Cooperation In 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 programme reinforces worldwide economic ties with 26 tactical agreements," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'very soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to a minimum of double yearly US financial investments over next decade," 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 consistent over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful brand-new capital deployment. International macro conditions set a challenging background.
The GCC ETF universe comprised 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency throughout the market was broadly negative, with only 13 ETFs delivering favorable returns compared to 26 in decrease. Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of idiosyncratic winners, rather than broad market strength.
Egypt delivered strong efficiency 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 continuous Middle East conflict and resulting energy shock have improved the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also dealt with broader macro headwinds, consisting of a more cautious policy backdrop in China and worldwide risk-off belief driven by geopolitical stress and higher energy rates. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the most part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth innovation, as assessment pressures and global rate dynamics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF substantially surpassed. Circulations in Q1 2026 were modest and highly concentrated, reflecting selective allotment instead of broad market participation. Despite weak performance, ETFs tape-recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of items bring in brand-new capital. This shows that investors were targeting particular exposures, while decreasing or turning out of others.
Trading activity remained constant, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. Most activity appears to have actually taken location in the secondary market, allowing investors to adjust positions without considerable main developments or redemptions.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic exposure concentrated on international 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 anticipated to introduce in April pending a last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development relating to ETFs in the GCC. We expect more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the dispute has impacted belief and costs during the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in local possessions.
The Future of Centralized Service Operations in the GulfDespite continuous geopolitical tensions and security dangers across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate resilience, maintaining favorable development momentum over the last few years. While conflicts in the wider area and international economic uncertainty remain a structural restriction, GCC countries have actually up until now restricted their influence on domestic financial performance through strong fiscal positions, policy connection, and continual investment.
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