UAE Ranks Fourth Globally Among State Investors With Dh10.75 Trillion in Assets

The UAE has emerged as the world’s fourth-largest state investor, with state-owned investors managing assets worth $2.931 trillion (Dh10.75 trillion), according to the 2026 Annual Report released by Global SWF on Thursday.

The report shows that the United States leads globally with $13.2 trillion in assets under management, followed by China with $8.22 trillion and Japan with $3.84 trillion. The UAE ranks fourth, ahead of Norway, which holds $2.27 trillion. State-owned investors include sovereign wealth funds, public pension funds, and central banks.

The UAE’s largest state-owned institutions by assets under management are led by the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) with $1.18 trillion. This is followed by the Investment Corporation of Dubai with $429 billion, Mubadala with $358 billion, ADQ with $251 billion, the Emirates Investment Authority with $116 billion, Dubai Investment Fund with $80 billion, and Dubai Holding with $72 billion.

In October 2024, Abu Dhabi was named the richest city in the world in Global SWF’s inaugural City Ranking, overtaking Oslo. The capital was reported to manage $1.7 trillion in assets through its sovereign wealth funds headquartered in the city, earning it the title “Capital of the Capital.”

The report also highlighted the UAE’s growing appeal as an investment destination. In 2025, the country ranked as the fifth-largest recipient of sovereign fund investments globally, attracting $9.9 billion, up from $7.9 billion in 2024. The United States topped the list with $131.8 billion, followed by the UK ($25.8 billion), Germany ($18.8 billion), and Canada ($17.7 billion).

Globally, state-owned investors continued to expand in 2025, benefiting from strong financial market performance and pursuing large-scale deals across multiple sectors. Global SWF noted that sovereign wealth funds surpassed $15 trillion in assets for the first time in December 2025.

Combined with public pension funds and central banks, state-owned investors now manage approximately $60 trillion in assets and reserves worldwide. Projections suggest this figure could approach $80 trillion by 2030.

Regionally, more than one-third of state-owned investor assets are based in Asia, followed by North America at 26 percent, Europe at 19 percent, and the Middle East and North Africa region at 15 percent. The report forecasts faster growth for sovereign wealth funds compared to public pension funds and central banks, potentially increasing the global share of Asia and MENA in the coming years.