Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund ADQ has more than doubled assets to USD 251 bn in the past four years, catching up to peers through its international and local investments and acquisitions, Bloomberg reports. Despite a trade war-induced climate of global uncertainty, ADQ is following a policy of carefully-considered investments, Investment Minister and ADQ CEO Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi told the business news information service.

Long-term tunnel vision: ADQ, which operates more similarly to a private equity fund rather than a traditional sovereign wealth fund, is looking to investments capable of “[weathering] all situations for the next hundred years,” Alsuwaidi said. “If you want to sell a business 100% or 51% or more, we’re the buyer,” Alsuwaidi said. “There is no other person in town who says, ‘I want to buy a 51% stake.’”

Filling critical “white spaces” in the local economy is its current mandate, with a focus on infrastructure, logistics, pharma, and food security, while it continues to strengthen its portfolio in critical infrastructure and supply chain investments. The fund is also now exploring potential investments in utilities and power, in addition to supporting the emirate’s AI ambitions.

Competition? Not an issue. While other sovereign wealth funds like Mubadala exist alongside ADQ, the environment is that of collaboration and “health competition,” he said. “If we see something that’s not for us, we’ll share it with our colleagues,” he said. “If the UAE sees the opportunity to make the return in a different way, we’ll make that return.”

The fund has garnered attention from Wall Street firms eager to advise on its growing portfolio. Data from research consultancy Global SWF suggested that ADQ invested USD 11 bn in 2024 — a figure unconfirmed by Alsuwaidi who said that the fund focuses on market conditions rather than a set budget.

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