ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – According to UN Trade and Development, the UAE’s outward foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2025 amounted to $63.353 billion. By the end of the year, the country’s total outward FDI stock had reached $402.729 billion. This represents a significant increase from $55.560 billion in 2010, illustrating a rapid growth in UAE-owned investments abroad. The latest data highlights the importance of international investments as one of the country’s primary methods for deploying capital globally. It also demonstrates the considerable expansion of the UAE’s overseas asset base over a span of 15 years.
The UAE’s investment footprint now extends across six continents, encompassing a broad array of sectors. These include energy, infrastructure, ports, logistics, technology, artificial intelligence, manufacturing, real estate, financial services, and healthcare. UAE investments reach both developed and emerging economies, with holdings and operational assets in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific. The scale of these investments involves sovereign funds, state-linked groups, and private enterprises, covering several of the world’s largest investment markets.
The 2025 total occurred amidst a broader global recovery in foreign direct investment. UN Trade and Development reported a 6% increase in worldwide FDI, reaching $1.6 trillion after two years of decline. Investment into developed nations grew by 11% to approximately $723 billion, while developing economies saw a 2% rise to $901 billion. The top 20 host countries worldwide attracted more than 80% of global FDI. The report also pointed out that investment remains concentrated within a relatively small group of countries and sectors.
UAE’s overseas investments cover major global markets
Mubadala Investment Company maintains one of the largest international portfolios among UAE entities. North America accounts for 44% of Mubadala’s global holdings, with over 80 direct investments and around $170 billion managed there. Europe comprises 15%, while Asia-Pacific makes up 13%. Latin America and the Caribbean represent 1%. Mubadala’s investments span sectors such as technology, energy, healthcare, financial services, industrial enterprises, and infrastructure, highlighting the extensive geographic reach of a major UAE sovereign investor.
Similarly, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority maintains a diversified geographic allocation. Its long-term strategic ranges allocate 45% to 60% of the portfolio to North America and 15% to 30% to Europe. Emerging markets constitute 10% to 20%, while developed Asia accounts for 5% to 10%. The Ministry of Foreign Trade links this extensive overseas presence to the UAE’s international economic partnerships and Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements, which facilitate trade and investment relations with partner nations.
Ports and logistics companies expand their overseas footprint
Ports and logistics firms provide another measure of the UAE’s global investment presence. In 2025, AD Ports Group operated 34 ports and terminals across its domestic and international network. The company maintained offices in over 50 countries and had a commercial presence in 158 nations, either directly or via representatives. Its operations connect port infrastructure with maritime transport, logistics, and economic zones across key trade routes. The group has grown its presence across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
Since 2010, the UAE’s outward investment stock has increased more than seven times, based on recent UN data. The investments made in 2025 span established markets and emerging regions across multiple industries. Concurrently, the global FDI environment has rebounded after two years of decline. UNCTAD’s 2026 report tracks both yearly investment flows and accumulated foreign investment stocks by country. These figures illustrate the scale of UAE capital already invested abroad and the diversity of the country’s international investment portfolio.