The United Arab Emirates has surged to third place worldwide in total sovereign wealth and public pension assets, amassing a combined $2.49 trillion (Dh9.17 trillion), according to the Global SWF mid-year report for 2025.
This achievement cements the UAE’s role as the largest sovereign asset holder in the Middle East, trailing only behind the United States ($12.12 trillion) and China ($3.36 trillion) in the global rankings.
The report highlights the UAE’s robust ecosystem of sovereign-owned investors (SOIs)—a mix of sovereign wealth and public pension funds—as a key driver of its ascent. Anchoring this network are powerhouse institutions such as the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), Mubadala Investment Company, ADQ, and the Investment Corporation of Dubai. These are supported by other active players like the Emirates Investment Authority, Sharjah Asset Management, RAK Investment Authority, and Dubai World.
These funds manage diversified portfolios that stretch across energy, infrastructure, technology, logistics, and, increasingly, sectors aligned with future global trends—such as artificial intelligence, clean energy, biotechnology, and sustainable development.
The UAE’s strong performance is credited to strategic foresight and long-term economic planning. By pivoting away from an oil-dependent model and embracing global capital markets, the country’s sovereign investors have become powerful engines of growth and influence.
The UAE joins a select group of top sovereign asset holders, including Japan, Norway, Canada, Singapore, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea—all of which are shaping the evolving landscape of global investment.