GCC ETF Market Report

The ETF landscape in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is entering a new phase of development.

Walking way in busy time

The European ETF Market Is Entering Its Next Phase

ONE PORTFOLIO, TWO WRAPPERS. GENIUS

As competition intensifies, adaptability, distribution reach, and product differentiation will separate market leaders from followers.

The Gulf Is Moving Fast

The GCC’s ETF market has shifted from a niche segment to one of the most compelling growth stories in global asset management.

Across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and beyond, exchanges are seeing rapid growth in ETF listings, Sharia innovation, cross-border partnerships, and rising investor participation.

Digital brokers, sovereign wealth funds, and a new generation of first-time investors—not traditional institutions—now shape how ETFs are discovered and used. And with sovereign funds controlling over US$4–5 trillion, the firms securing early traction in the GCC will define the region’s next market leaders.

 

The GCC ETF Market Report breaks down this shift. It reveals how Saudi Arabia and the UAE have become the region’s ETF hubs, why Sharia and fixed-income products lead demand, how Hong Kong–Saudi ETF corridors are reshaping global access, and how regulation, fintech, and demographics are creating the Middle East’s most dynamic ETF landscape to date.

Table Of Content

1. Market Size & Structure

2. Opportunities for Growth

3. Barriers to Entry

4. Cross-Border ETF Developments

5. Retail Opportunity and Market Readiness

GCC-ETF-Market-Report_October-2025-1

Download the full report

Key Insights

Market trends

Total on-exchange ETF assets in the GCC are around US$1.6 billion

Economic drivers

The first Saudi-focused ETF in Hong Kong holds US$1.34 billion AUM

Sector movements

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar have 35 ETFs listed in total

Forecast highlights

Retail investors may account for 25–30% of ETF trading in Saudi Arabia and the UAE by 2030

Sample Page: Get a Sneak Peek

Why you need to read it

If you want clarity on what’s really driving ETF expansion in the Middle East—and how to align your strategy with the forces reshaping the region—this report gives you the insight, direction, and edge to lead the next phase of growth.

Related reports

Walking way in busy time
As competition intensifies, adaptability, distribution reach, and product differentiation will separate market leaders from followers.
Another record year. Another clear message. - newsletter header visual
Speed to market, operational efficiency, and technological readiness will separate those who can keep pace from those who get left behind.
Retail doesn't care about your logo - newsletter header visual
ETF issuers are teaming up with online brokers like Comdirect to reach retail investors, a smart shift toward trust-based, accessible ETF growth in Europe.

Join Thousands of Subscribers

ETF insights. Straight to your inbox.

Get exclusive access to in-depth reports, market trends, and curated ETF insights—delivered weekly. Built to help you stay sharp, without the noise.