UAE SWFs led with 62% of the $74B deployed by GCC state-owned funds in 2022, managing nearly $4T assets, per S&P Global. Among the world’s top 10 spenders, five were GCC SOIs, with UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar deploying most.
GCC SWFs grew by 18% in AUM in 2022, accounting for 37% of global SWF AUMs, equivalent to peers in Asia, Latin America, and Sub Saharan Africa combined.
5 of the largest SWFs globally are in the GCC region. GCC SWFs focused on strategic buys in line with long-term visions and have become more experienced and sophisticated in asset allocation, noted S&P economist Jamil Naayem.
Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, GCC sovereign investors increased investments by 27% to $49B, acquiring distressed assets and stakes in affected companies and sectors.