ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – In 2025, the UAE reported outward foreign direct investment totaling $63.353 billion, as per UN Trade and Development. By the end of that year, the country’s total outward FDI stock had reached $402.729 billion, up from $55.560 billion in 2010, reflecting a significant rise in UAE-owned overseas investments. These latest figures highlight how international investment has become one of the country’s primary avenues for deploying capital globally and demonstrate the growth of the overseas asset base over 15 years.
The UAE’s investment footprint now extends across six continents, encompassing a diverse array of industries such as energy, infrastructure, ports, logistics, technology, artificial intelligence, manufacturing, real estate, financial services, and healthcare. UAE capital reaches both advanced and emerging economies, with holdings and operational assets throughout 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 total for 2025 coincides with a broader rebound in global foreign direct investment, which UN Trade and Development reported increased by 6% to $1.6 trillion after two years of decline. Investment into developed economies grew by 11% to approximately $723 billion, while developing economies saw a 2% rise to $901 billion. Over 80% of global FDI was concentrated in the top 20 host countries, with the report also indicating that investment remains focused on a relatively small number of nations and sectors.
Major Markets Showcase UAE Capital
Mubadala Investment Company boasts one of the largest international portfolios among UAE investors, with North America representing 44% of its holdings, comprising over 80 direct investments and approximately $170 billion under management there. Europe accounts for 15%, and Asia-Pacific 13%, while Latin America and the Caribbean make up 1%. Its investments span sectors such as technology, energy, healthcare, financial services, industrial businesses, and infrastructure, underscoring the extensive geographic scope of this major UAE sovereign investor.
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority also maintains a wide geographic distribution. Its long-term strategic allocations assign 45% to 60% of assets to North America, 15% to 30% to Europe, with emerging markets comprising 10% to 20%, and developed Asia accounting for 5% to 10%. The Ministry of Foreign Trade attributes this international footprint to the UAE’s economic relationships and Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements, which facilitate trade and investment ties with partner nations.
Ports and Logistics Expand Global Presence
Ports and logistics firms illustrate another aspect of the UAE’s overseas investment reach. In 2025, AD Ports Group managed 34 ports and terminals domestically and internationally, with offices in over 50 countries and a commercial footprint in 158 nations through direct operations or representatives. Their activities connect port infrastructure with maritime transport, logistics, and economic zones across key trade routes, with expansion into Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
Since 2010, the UAE’s outward investment stock has increased more than seven times, according to recent UN data. The 2025 investments span established markets and emerging regions across multiple sectors. Meanwhile, the global FDI environment has resumed growth after two years of decline. UNCTAD’s 2026 report monitors both annual investment flows and accumulated foreign investment stocks by country, illustrating the scale of UAE capital deployed abroad and the breadth of its international investment portfolio.