ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – According to UN Trade and Development, the UAE’s outward foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2025 totaled $63.353 billion. By the end of the year, the country’s total overseas FDI stock had grown to $402.729 billion, up from $55.560 billion in 2010, reflecting a significant increase in UAE-owned investments abroad. These figures highlight the importance of international investment as one of the country’s key methods for deploying capital globally and demonstrate how much the overseas asset base has expanded over the past 15 years.
UAE investment activities now span six continents and a diverse array of sectors, including energy, infrastructure, ports, logistics, technology, artificial intelligence, manufacturing, real estate, financial services, and healthcare. Capital from the UAE reaches both advanced and emerging economies, with holdings and operational assets across North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific. This extensive geographic footprint involves sovereign funds, state-linked groups, and private enterprises, reaching several of the world’s largest investment markets.
The 2025 total aligns with a broader recovery in global FDI, as UN Trade and Development reported a 6% increase to $1.6 trillion worldwide after two years of decline. Investment into developed nations rose 11% to approximately $723 billion, while developing economies experienced a 2% rise to $901 billion. The top 20 host countries attracted over 80% of global FDI, with the report emphasizing that investment remains concentrated within a small group of countries and sectors.
UAE investments extend across major international markets
Mubadala Investment Company maintains one of the largest international portfolios for the UAE. North America accounts for 44% of its assets, with over 80 direct investments and approximately $170 billion managed there. Europe makes up 15%, and the Asia-Pacific region 13%, while Latin America and the Caribbean comprise 1%. Mubadala’s investments span sectors such as technology, energy, healthcare, financial services, industrials, and infrastructure, underscoring the extensive reach of this major UAE sovereign investor.
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority also manages a geographically diversified portfolio, with long-term strategic allocations of 45% to 60% for North America, 15% to 30% for Europe, 10% to 20% for emerging markets, and 5% to 10% for developed Asia. The Ministry of Foreign Trade links this overseas presence to the UAE’s broader international economic relations and Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements, which facilitate trade and investment partnerships with numerous economies.
Ports and logistics firms bolster the UAE’s global footprint
Ports and logistics companies serve as another indicator of the UAE’s international investment reach. In 2025, AD Ports Group operated 34 ports and terminals domestically and abroad. The company also maintained offices in over 50 countries and a commercial presence in 158 nations, directly or via representatives. Its operations connect port infrastructure with maritime transport, logistics, and economic zones along key trade routes, with expansion efforts across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
Since 2010, the UAE’s outward investment stock has increased more than sevenfold based on the latest UN data. The 2025 investments encompass established markets and emerging regions across multiple industries. As the global FDI environment rebounded after two years of decline, UNCTAD’s 2026 report tracks both yearly investment flows and accumulated foreign investments by country. These figures illustrate the substantial scale of UAE capital deployed abroad and the breadth of the country’s international investment portfolio.