ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – The UAE recorded $63.353 billion in outward foreign direct investment in 2025, according to UN Trade and Development. The country’s total outward FDI stock reached $402.729 billion by year-end. That compares with $55.560 billion in 2010, showing a sharp expansion in the value of UAE-owned investments overseas. The latest figures place international investment among the country’s largest channels for deploying capital across global markets. They also show how much the country’s overseas asset base has expanded over 15 years.
The UAE investment footprint now spans six continents and a wide range of industries. These include 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 operating assets across North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Pacific. The scale includes investments by sovereign funds, state-linked groups and private businesses. That geographic spread reaches several of the world’s largest investment markets.
The 2025 total came during a broader recovery in global foreign direct investment. UN Trade and Development reported that worldwide FDI rose 6% to $1.6 trillion after two years of decline. Investment into developed economies increased 11% to about $723 billion. Developing economies recorded a 2% increase to $901 billion. The world’s top 20 host economies attracted more than 80% of global FDI. The report also found that investment remained concentrated across a relatively small group of countries and sectors.
UAE capital spans major global markets
Mubadala Investment Company has one of the country’s largest international portfolios. North America represents 44% of its global portfolio, with more than 80 direct investments and about $170 billion under management there. Europe accounts for 15% of Mubadala’s portfolio, while Asia-Pacific represents 13%. Latin America and the Caribbean account for 1%. Its holdings cover sectors including technology, energy, healthcare, financial services, industrial businesses and infrastructure. The figures underline the geographic scale of one major UAE sovereign investor.
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority also maintains a broad geographic allocation. Its long-term strategic ranges assign 45% to 60% of the portfolio to North America and 15% to 30% to Europe. Emerging markets account for a 10% to 20% range, while developed Asia represents 5% to 10%. The Ministry of Foreign Trade has linked the wider overseas presence to the UAE’s international economic relationships and Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements. Those agreements cover trade and investment ties with partner economies.
Ports and logistics extend overseas reach
Ports and logistics companies provide another measure of the UAE’s overseas investment footprint. During 2025, AD Ports Group operated 34 ports and terminals across its domestic and international network. The company also maintained offices in more than 50 countries and a commercial presence across 158 countries, directly or through representatives. Its operations connect port infrastructure with maritime transport, logistics and economic zones across several major trade corridors. The group has expanded across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
The UAE’s outward investment stock has risen more than sevenfold since 2010, based on the latest UN data. Its 2025 investments covered established markets and developing regions across multiple industries. At the same time, the global FDI environment returned to growth after two years of decline. UNCTAD’s 2026 report tracks both annual investment flows and accumulated foreign investment stocks by economy. The figures show the scale of UAE capital already deployed abroad and the breadth of the country’s international investment base.