Middle East Sovereign Wealth Funds Deepen Global Investments
Sovereign wealth funds from the UAE and Qatar are making significant international acquisitions. Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Capital is moving to acquire Canada’s CI Financial Corp, while the Qatar Investment Authority backed a funding round for U.S. space infrastructure company Axiom Space. This follows a report that aggressive dealmaking helped Abu Dhabi’s International Holding Company achieve a 35% profit jump in 2025.
- The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Type One Ventures co-led a $350 million funding round for Axiom Space. This investment supports the development of Axiom Station, intended to succeed the International Space Station, and new spacesuits for NASA's Artemis III moon mission. - Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company holds approximately $330 billion in assets under management and has signaled a strategic focus on expanding its investments in Asia, artificial intelligence, and private credit. The sovereign wealth fund aims to double its portfolio size in the coming decade. - Middle East sovereign wealth funds represent over 40% of the industry's global assets under management, a figure that has grown by 59% since 2020. In 2025, the seven largest Gulf funds committed a record $126 billion, accounting for 43% of all sovereign capital invested worldwide. - The acquisition of Canada's CI Financial, which has roughly C$450 billion in assets under management and advisement, positions Mubadala deeper into the North American wealth and asset management sector. - International Holding Company (IHC) has been expanding aggressively through acquisitions, completing 12 deals with an average value of $69.1 million. Recently, IHC announced the launch of Judan Financial Holding, a new entity expected to manage over $236 billion in assets. - These investments are part of a broader strategy by Gulf nations to diversify their economies away from fossil fuels by acquiring stakes in sectors like technology, AI, and digital infrastructure. In 2025, GCC sovereign wealth funds were the largest global investors in AI and digital assets, with the United States being the primary destination for their capital.
