UAE Now Holds Over $900M in Bitcoin

The United Arab Emirates maintained more than $900 million in Bitcoin exposure through a combination of direct reserves, regulated financial vehicles and holdings in spot exchange-traded funds. The valuation surpassed that level when Bitcoin traded near $68,900, according to market data, though no recent official statements have detailed any changes in allocation.

A significant portion of the exposure is linked to spot Bitcoin ETFs. Sovereign wealth entities including the Abu Dhabi Investment Council and Mubadala have acquired shares in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT). By late 2025, the Abu Dhabi Investment Council held close to eight million IBIT shares, valued at more than $518 million at the time of reporting. ETF structures offer regulated market access without the need for direct custody of digital assets, while providing liquidity and reporting transparency.

Additional exposure stems from state-linked Bitcoin mining operations in Abu Dhabi, alongside allocations made through regulated financial instruments tied to the cryptocurrency.

The positioning has taken place against a backdrop of market turbulence. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index dropped to 9 during the recent downturn, and digital asset funds recorded outflows exceeding $3 billion in January. While many retail investors reduced their exposure and some institutional players shifted toward more defensive allocations, the UAE’s Bitcoin holdings remained in place.