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Inform method with proof: Usage independent data on market confidence, development, and client demand to assist your tactical instructions. Validate financial investment strategies: Guarantee resource allotment and efforts are backed by credible market insight. Accelerate confident choices: Equip members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach contract quickly and take definitive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA in 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 In 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) Development Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA programme strengthens worldwide economic ties with 26 tactical contracts," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign free trade pact 'really soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to a minimum of double annual United States investments over next decade," Might 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE financial investments in Africa position nation as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Fact Sheet: President Donald J.
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Overall possessions held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a significant new capital implementation. Worldwide macro conditions set a tough backdrop.
The outcome was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional trend. Oil related properties succeeded for the most part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Absolute High-end ETF launched on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. Also in Q1, 2 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 comprised 39 ETFs with an overall AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Performance across the market was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs delivering favorable returns compared to 26 in decrease. Overall, the data reflects a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity concentrated in a small subset of items.
Navigating Regional Market Strategy for 2026Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, instead of broad market strength. The leading ETFs were focused in particular country exposures and commodities, particularly Turkey, Saudi petrochemicals, gold, and Egypt. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were resistant throughout the quarter. Saudi Arabia's oil exposure supported its regional market, with Aramco reaching new highs in the middle of greater oil prices, along with its continued capability to export oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which stays open.
Egypt delivered strong efficiency in January and February. Despite 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 reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector also faced wider macro headwinds, including a more careful policy backdrop in China and global risk-off belief driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy costs. Thematic ETFs Had a hard time for the most part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth technology, as evaluation pressures and global rate characteristics weighed on efficiency.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, showing selective allocation rather than broad market participation. In spite of weak efficiency, ETFs taped $27.1 million in net inflows, with only a little number of items attracting brand-new capital.
Trading activity stayed stable, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. Most activity appears to have taken location in the secondary market, enabling financiers to adjust positions without significant main productions or redemptions.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, including a specific niche thematic exposure concentrated on worldwide high-end and consumer 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 launch in April pending a last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 revealed some progress associating with ETFs in the GCC. We expect more global and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has affected sentiment and rates throughout the quarter, it has actually driven more volume and interest in local properties.
Navigating Regional Market Strategy for 2026Despite continuous geopolitical stress and security dangers across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to show strength, preserving positive development momentum in the last few years. While conflicts in the larger area and worldwide financial unpredictability remain a structural restriction, GCC nations have actually so far limited their effect on domestic financial performance through strong fiscal positions, policy connection, and sustained financial investment.
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