ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – According to UN Trade and Development, the UAE’s outward foreign direct investment reached $63.353 billion in 2025. By the end of the year, the country’s total FDI stock abroad stood at $402.729 billion. This is a notable increase from $55.560 billion in 2010, highlighting a rapid rise in the value of UAE investments overseas. These recent figures demonstrate that international investment has become one of the country’s primary methods for deploying capital globally. They also reflect how much the UAE’s overseas asset base has grown over the past 15 years.
The UAE’s investment footprint now spans six continents and encompasses a diverse array of industries. These include energy, infrastructure, ports, logistics, technology, artificial intelligence, manufacturing, real estate, financial services, and healthcare. UAE capital reaches both developed and emerging economies, with holdings and operational assets across North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific. The scale of investments involves sovereign funds, state-linked groups, and private enterprises, covering several of the world’s largest investment markets.
The total for 2025 coincided with a broader recovery in global foreign direct investment. UN Trade and Development reported a 6% increase in worldwide FDI to $1.6 trillion after two years of decline. Investment into developed economies grew by 11%, reaching approximately $723 billion, while developing economies experienced a 2% rise to $901 billion. More than 80% of global FDI was attracted by the world’s top 20 host economies. The report also noted that investment remains concentrated within a relatively small group of countries and sectors.
Major global markets are covered by UAE capital
Mubadala Investment Company holds one of the largest international portfolios among UAE entities. North America accounts for 44% of its global investments, with over 80 direct investments and around $170 billion managed there. Europe makes up 15%, while Asia-Pacific represents 13%. Latin America and the Caribbean together account for 1%. Mubadala’s holdings span sectors such as technology, energy, healthcare, financial services, industrial businesses, and infrastructure. These figures emphasize the extensive geographic reach of one of the UAE’s key sovereign investors.
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority also maintains a broad international allocation. Its long-term strategic ranges assign 45% to 60% of its portfolio to North America and 15% to 30% to Europe. Emerging markets are allocated between 10% and 20%, while developed Asia accounts for 5% to 10%. The Ministry of Foreign Trade has associated this overseas presence with the UAE’s international economic relationships and Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements, which govern trade and investment ties with partner economies.
Ports and logistics companies expand their overseas footprint
Ports and logistics firms offer another indicator of the UAE’s international investment reach. In 2025, AD Ports Group operated 34 ports and terminals across its domestic and global network. The company also maintained offices in more than 50 countries and had a commercial presence in 158 countries, either directly or via representatives. Its operations connect port infrastructure with maritime transport, logistics, and economic zones along several major trade routes. The group has extended its presence 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. In 2025, investments covered both established markets and developing regions across multiple sectors. Meanwhile, the global FDI environment has rebounded after two years of decline. UNCTAD’s 2026 report tracks annual investment flows and accumulated foreign investment stocks by country, illustrating the scale of UAE capital already deployed abroad and the extensive scope of its international investment base.