Middle East ETF News for the Past Year
Saudi, UAE drive GCC assets under management growth to $2.2trln
August 14, 2025--Two countries are among major contributors to growth in mutual funds sector-BCG
The value of assets under management (AUM) across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region expanded by 9% to $2.2 trillion in 2024, according to Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
Exchanges get religion in pursuit of Muslim cryptobros
August 12, 2025--Saudi Arabia's Capital Market Authority (CMA) is planning to make investment funds available to the public via the stock markets.
The new initiative, for which it has sought public feedback, allows for certain types of "financing investment funds", which are currently only available through private placements, to be listed on the Main and Parallel Markets of the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul).
Exchanges get religion in pursuit of Muslim cryptobros
August 8, 2025--Binance launches Islamic investments
Mena's Muslim investors underserved
Gulf hosts 50% of global Islamic assets
Cryptocurrency exchanges including Binance are rolling out halal investment options in an effort to entice Muslim investors.
Saudi Arabia: 2025 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; and Staff Report
August 4, 2025-Summary
As its economic diversification advances, Saudi Arabia has shown strong resilience to external shocks. Non-oil economic activities continue to expand, inflation is contained, and unemployment has fallen to record-low levels.
Kuwait bourse to return to debt listing and trade in 2025
July 14, 2025-The Kuwait Stock Exchange will restart the listing and trading of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), sukuk and bonds in 2025, the bourse's CEO Mohammed Saud Al-Osaimi told reporters on Sunday.
Saudi Arabia: Concluding Statement of the 2025 Article IV Mission
June 26, 2025-- Saudi Arabia's economy has demonstrated strong resilience to shocks, with non-oil economic activities expanding, inflation contained, and unemployment reaching record-low levels. While lower oil proceeds and investment-linked imports led to the emergence of twin deficits, external and fiscal buffers remain ample.
A higher-than-budgeted fiscal stance in 2025 remains appropriate to prevent procyclicality that could exacerbate the growth impact of lower oil prices.
GCC: Growth on the Rise, but Smart Spending Will Shape a Thriving Future
June 19, 2025-Economic growth across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is projected to increase in the medium-term to 3.2% in 2025 and 4.50% in 2026. This growth is likely to be driven by the expected rollback of OPEC+ oil production cuts and robust expansion of non-oil sectors.
Saudi Exchange leads market losses across the GCC
June 16, 2025--Tadawul hits 20-month low
Qatar index drops 4%
Fears of a wider regional conflict
Hong Kong and Saudi work on cross-border financial products
May 30, 2025--Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia are considering allowing more cross-border financial products as the two markets seek to deepen financial ties amid rising trade uncertainties.
An exchange-traded fund tracking bonds issued by the Saudi government started trading in Hong Kong on Thursday, the first fixed-income fund listed in the territory to offer such exposure.
Growth in the Middle East and North Africa Forecast to Moderately Accelerate in 2025 Amidst Uncertainty
April 23, 2025—According to the World Bank's latest Middle East and North Africa Economic Update, entitled Shifting Gears: The Private Sector as an Engine of Growth in the Middle East and North Africa, the region is estimated to have grown at a modest 1.9 percent in 2024 and growth is forecast to moderately rise to 2.6 percent in 2025.
