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Notify method with evidence: Usage independent data on market self-confidence, growth, and customer demand to direct your tactical instructions. Confirm financial investment strategies: Guarantee resource allowance and efforts are backed by credible market insight. Accelerate positive choices: Gear up members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach arrangement quickly and take decisive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA in between the GCC and the UK is a Major Strategic Opportunity to Raise Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Statement on Economic Cooperation In 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 programme reinforces worldwide financial ties with 26 strategic contracts," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign free trade pact 'soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to a minimum of double yearly United States 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, "Fact Sheet: President Donald J.
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The GCC ETF market entered Q1 2026 in a debt consolidation phase, with activity remaining elevated but development slowing. Overall properties held broadly consistent over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued rearranging and as a response to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful brand-new capital release. Worldwide macro conditions set a difficult backdrop.
The result was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional pattern. Oil associated properties succeeded for the a lot of part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Outright High-end ETF launched on ADX to add more thematic ETFs. In Q1, two more Kraneshares have actually been approved 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 a total AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Efficiency throughout the market was broadly unfavorable, with only 13 ETFs delivering positive 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 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 conflict 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 wider macro headwinds, including a more careful policy background in China and international risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and higher energy rates. Thematic ETFs also struggled for the a lot of part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as valuation pressures and international rate characteristics weighed on performance.
The petrochemical ETF considerably exceeded. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly concentrated, showing selective allowance instead of broad market involvement. In spite of weak performance, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a small number of items bring in brand-new capital. This suggests that investors were targeting particular direct exposures, while decreasing or rotating out of others.
Trading activity remained stable, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of bigger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have actually taken place in the secondary market, enabling financiers to change positions without considerable main developments or redemptions.
In January, Boreas released its S&P Global Luxury UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic direct exposure concentrated on worldwide 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 expected to launch in April pending a last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some progress relating to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the dispute has affected sentiment and costs during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in regional properties.
Comparing Corporate Strategy Models within the GCCIn spite of ongoing geopolitical stress and security risks throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate durability, keeping favorable development momentum in current years. While disputes in the broader area and international economic unpredictability remain a structural restriction, GCC countries have actually up until now limited their effect on domestic financial performance through strong financial positions, policy continuity, and sustained investment.
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