ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – In 2025, the UAE’s outward foreign direct investment (FDI) reached $63.353 billion, as reported by UN Trade and Development. By the end of the year, the country’s total FDI stock abroad stood at $402.729 billion, marking a significant increase from $55.560 billion in 2010. This sharp growth highlights the expanding value of UAE-owned investments overseas and underscores international investment as one of the nation’s major avenues for deploying capital globally. The latest data illustrates how much the UAE’s overseas asset portfolio has grown over the past 15 years.
Today, the UAE’s investment footprint extends across six continents and encompasses a diverse array of sectors. These include energy, infrastructure, ports, logistics, technology, artificial intelligence, manufacturing, real estate, financial services, and healthcare. The UAE’s capital investments reach both advanced and emerging economies, with holdings and operational assets spread across North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific. These investments involve sovereign funds, state-linked groups, and private enterprises, covering some of the world’s largest investment markets.
The total for 2025 comes amid a broader global recovery in foreign direct investment. UN Trade and Development reported that worldwide FDI increased by 6% to $1.6 trillion after two years of decline. Investment in developed economies grew by 11%, reaching approximately $723 billion, while developing economies saw a 2% rise to $901 billion. The top 20 host countries attracted over 80% of global FDI. The report also highlights that FDI remains concentrated in a relatively small number of countries and sectors.
Major global markets host UAE capital
Mubadala Investment Company manages one of the UAE’s largest international investment portfolios. North America accounts for 44% of its global holdings, with more than 80 direct investments and approximately $170 billion under management there. Europe makes up 15%, while Asia-Pacific represents 13%. Latin America and the Caribbean together account for 1%. Mubadala’s investments span sectors such as technology, energy, healthcare, financial services, industrial enterprises, and infrastructure, illustrating the extensive reach of one of the UAE’s leading sovereign investors.
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority also maintains a broad geographic investment distribution. Its long-term strategic allocations typically assign 45% to 60% of its portfolio to North America, 15% to 30% to Europe, 10% to 20% to emerging markets, and 5% to 10% to developed Asia. The Ministry of Foreign Trade has linked this expansive overseas presence to the UAE’s international economic ties and Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements, which facilitate trade and investment with partner nations.
Ports and logistics firms expand their international footprint
Ports and logistics companies serve as another indicator of the UAE’s overseas investment reach. 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 a commercial presence in 158 countries, either directly or through representatives. Its activities connect port infrastructure with maritime transport, logistics, and economic zones along major trade routes. The group’s expansion has continued across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
Since 2010, the UAE’s outward investment stock has increased more than seven times, according to UN data. The investments in 2025 span both established markets and emerging regions across multiple industries. Simultaneously, the global FDI environment has resumed growth after two years of decline. UNCTAD’s 2026 report monitors annual investment flows and the accumulated foreign investment stocks by country, illustrating the scale of UAE capital already deployed abroad and the diversity of its international investment portfolio.