Major Shifts in the 2026 Middle East Market

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How Does Operational Excellence Crucial for Future Growth?

The GCC ETF market entered Q1 2026 in a consolidation phase, with activity remaining raised but growth slowing. Total assets held broadly constant over the quarter, while trading levels indicated continued repositioning and as a response to geopolitical news instead of a meaningful brand-new capital deployment. Worldwide macro conditions set a difficult backdrop.

The outcome was a quarter defined by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, instead of a clear directional trend. Oil related possessions succeeded for the most part. On the positive side, in January, the Boreas Absolute High-end ETF introduced on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. In Q1, 2 more Kraneshares have been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and are about to be approved by the Abu Dhabi Stock Market (ADX). The GCC ETF universe consisted of 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (since Q1 2026). Performance throughout the marketplace was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. In general, the data reflects a market that is active but narrow, with capital and liquidity focused in a little subset of products.

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

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Egypt delivered strong performance 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 in 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 international risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical tensions and greater energy prices. Thematic ETFs Struggled for the a lot of part, particularly those linked to carbon and high-growth innovation, as assessment pressures and worldwide rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.

The petrochemical ETF substantially exceeded. Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and highly focused, reflecting selective allocation instead of broad market involvement. Regardless of weak performance, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of products attracting new capital. This shows that financiers were targeting particular exposures, while minimizing or turning out of others.

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Why Is Business Excellence Vital for Future Growth?

Trading activity stayed constant, with average 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, focused in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. A lot of activity appears to have happened in the secondary market, making it possible for investors to change positions without considerable primary productions or redemptions. While recent geopolitical events have actually resulted in more monetary pressure on GCC nations, the region stays resistant and well capitalized to deal with the situation.

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

Q1 2026 showed some development connecting to ETFs in the GCC. We anticipate more worldwide and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC throughout 2026. While the conflict has actually affected sentiment and prices throughout the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in local assets.

In spite of ongoing geopolitical tensions and security dangers throughout the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have continued to demonstrate durability, maintaining favorable development momentum in the last few years. While conflicts in the wider area and global financial uncertainty remain a structural restraint, GCC nations have actually so far limited their impact on domestic financial performance through strong financial positions, policy connection, and continual investment.