Abu Dhabi is the richest city in the world for sovereign wealth funds.

Officially, Abu Dhabi is the richest city in the world, according to sovereign wealth fund assets, which reached an astoundingly high $1.7 trillion. Abu Dhabi therefore supersedes Oslo, for instance, which is known for having the single largest fund-its Government Pension Fund-with more than $1.6 trillion in assets.

It is driven by very strong sovereign wealth fund portfolios, with the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Mubadala Investment Company, Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company, and the Emirates Investment Authority. The institutions not only manage huge resources but also invest in a wide range of sectors across the world-from real estate to technology.

At the beginning of October 2024, a total of sovereign wealth funds worldwide manages around $12.5 trillion in assets, and those six cities-Abu Dhabi, Oslo, Dubai, Beijing, Singapore, and Riyadh-account for two-thirds of that amount. A lot of financial power comes with that. Such cities turn out to be quite decisive in defining global investment strategies and thus overall economic trends.

According to experts, public capital in Abu Dhabi may reach $3.4 trillion by 2030 and cement its status as the hub for financial centers. These financial centers are gaining in prominence and exert influence on international capital flow, according to Global SWF's managing director, Diego López. As Abu Dhabi increases its participation in the global markets, this would likely cement its status as a first-tier financial capital, thus boosting investment and partnerships even more.