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Abu Dhabi Fund for Development
  • Global Markets

Abu Dhabi Fund for Development’s strategic investments reached AED562 million across six high-impact projects in 2025. These investments support healthcare, education, food security, and economic development across several emerging markets. The fund spread its capital across India, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Uzbekistan during the year. You can see how these projects target essential services in underserved regions around the world. Each investment aligns with the ADFD 2030 Strategy and its focus on lasting impact. Together, these projects should deliver healthcare to more than two million people each year. They also aim to educate over 34,000 students and support more than 10,000 jobs. Healthcare drew the largest share of activity during the year, according to the fund.

How the fund spread its money

In Vietnam, the fund backed SIS Hospital, a specialised stroke and cardiovascular care provider. This hospital serves roughly 17 million people across the Mekong Delta and nearby regions. Doctors there have raised the share of stroke patients who now receive timely treatment. The hospital also helped more than 1,300 low-income patients through its treatment assistance programmes. ADFD also invested in Tam Tri Medical, one of Vietnam’s largest private healthcare networks. This network served more than one million patients during 2025 across seven hospitals total. It works mostly in underserved cities and eases pressure on public health systems there.

Abu Dhabi Fund for Development strategic investments widen education access

Beyond hospitals, the fund put money into human capital through schools and student learning. Its investment in Phase Education supports more than 34,000 students across 31 school campuses. This platform now runs across Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand as a regional K-12 provider. The ADFD healthcare and education investments show a clear focus on essential daily services. Food security formed another core area for the fund throughout the past full year. In Uzbekistan, ADFD backed Korzinka, the country’s leading food retail chain, through its ADUI arm. The retailer employs more than 10,000 people and is now expanding its logistics operations widely.

Leadership view on the strategy has Mohamed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director-General of ADFD, described the strategy behind this large capital. He said the projects “strengthen economic resilience in partner countries” and advance shared prosperity goals.

What these investments mean for you

For you as a reader, these moves shape how development finance reaches real communities. The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development strategic investments target sectors people rely on daily. From my standpoint, this mix of healthcare and food spending shows careful, disciplined planning. Each project carries clear targets for patients, students, and workers across these partner nations. You also see a clear link to the ADFD 2030 Strategy in every choice. This wider push fits a broad global trend in emerging markets development finance today. The ADFD AED562 million investments cover six deals spread across four different partner countries.

A long-term path forward

Officials frame these deals as part of the fund’s broader long-term 2030 development goals. Abu Dhabi Fund for Development strategic investments form one part of a wider global program. Across decades, the fund has supported 108 countries through loans, grants, and equity stakes. You can expect more deals like these as the 2030 deadline draws closer now. These Abu Dhabi Fund for Development strategic investments will shape outcomes for millions ahead.

  • 3 min read
Abu Dhabi's economic licence growth
  • Business

Abu Dhabi’s economic licence growth reached 21 percent during the first quarter of 2026. The figure compares against the same three-month period recorded across the emirate one year earlier. Officials at the Abu Dhabi Registration Authority (ADRA) released the new data this week. These numbers show strong demand for new economic licences that Abu Dhabi continues to attract. The body works as the arm of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED). It develops and regulates the business sector across every region within the wider emirate.

Active licences across the emirate climbed 12 percent during the same opening quarter period. Growth appeared in every region, with Al Ain leading at a 58 percent rise. Al Dhafra recorded a 28 percent increase, while Abu Dhabi City posted 18 percent. New commercial licences grew 20 percent across the period, according to official records released. Professional licences rose sharply, jumping a strong 193 percent over the prior year’s figure. Agriculture, fisheries, and livestock activities each saw their licence count rise by 5 percent. Industry also moved forward, with production-phase licences climbing 3 percent across the opening quarter. Around 34 new industrial facilities entered full operation during the first three months of 2026.

WHAT THE INDUSTRIAL GAINS MEAN FOR YOU

These industrial gains support the Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy (ADIS) and its long-term targets. Stronger supply chains and higher local production help the wider Abu Dhabi business ecosystem. Abu Dhabi’s economic licence growth shows the emirate can sustain momentum despite regional pressure. For investors like you, these figures point toward steady demand and genuine new opportunity.

Hamad Sayah Al Mazrouei, the Undersecretary of ADDED, welcomed the strong latest quarterly results. He said, “These strong indicators reaffirm the resilience and attractiveness of Abu Dhabi’s economy.” Al Mazrouei pointed to the emirate’s policies and legislative frameworks as central economic strengths. He also stressed continued engagement with companies, investors, and stakeholders right across the emirate.

ABU DHABI’S ECONOMIC LICENCE GROWTH SPREADS BEYOND THE CAPITAL

Smaller licence types also recorded strong gains during the opening quarter of the year. Tajer Abu Dhabi licences increased 17 percent, helping many home-based traders expand their work. Freelance licences soared 261 percent, a clear sign of strong independent business activity here. Mobdea licences grew 15 percent, supporting Emirati women who run small creative home enterprises. Advertisements rose 26 percent, while promotional offers added a further 2 percent across the quarter.

As I see it, these results point to broad confidence in the local economy. Mohamed Munif Al Mansoori, the Director General of ADRA, addressed the rising business demand. He said the authority will keep pace with ongoing changes across the wider business sector.

WHY THIS MATTERS FOR YOUR NEXT MOVE

Strong Abu Dhabi’s economic licence growth reflects steady progress toward Abu Dhabi’s economic diversification. The emirate keeps shifting away from oil toward sectors like industry, tourism, and technology. For entrepreneurs, simpler procedures and faster approvals make local business setup far more practical. Your timing matters because the new economic licences Abu Dhabi issues keep climbing each quarter. The Abu Dhabi business ecosystem rewards firms ready to act on clear market signals. Abu Dhabi’s economic licence growth gives you a strong reason to plan ahead now.

  • 3 min read
AD Ports integrated logistics services
  • Logistics

AD Ports’ integrated logistics services now link Khalifa Port with Umm Qasr Port in Iraq. The new route carries growing container and Ro-Ro cargo between these two busy ports. You now gain a direct weekly shipping service connecting the UAE with key Iraqi markets. AD Ports Group built this route to support trade across the wider Gulf region. The service moves cargo through the growing UAE-Iraq trade corridor every single week. Trade flows reach Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and the wider GCC markets through this link. The route also strengthens trade ties with Türkiye and Europe for many regional businesses.

You can move goods faster because the two ports work under one clear system. AD Ports Group set up storage and handling tools at both ports for this work. These tools let teams store, handle, and move cargo with less delay and waste. Strong handling capacity helps shippers plan routes and protect their goods during long sea voyages. The Group views the link as part of a wider growth plan for trade. Officials want steady routes because reliable trade builds lasting trust among shippers and buyers. As I see it, this move gives smaller traders a real chance to grow.

AD Ports’ integrated logistics services widen the UAE-Iraq trade corridor

AD Ports integrated logistics services to give the region a stronger and steadier trade link. The weekly shipping service runs on a fixed plan, so you can schedule shipments early. Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi leads AD Ports Group as Managing Director and Group CEO. He said, “We remain committed to expanding our integrated logistics ecosystem to better serve customers.” His words point to a clear plan for stronger regional connectivity logistics across markets. The CEO added that the route gives firms access to diversified and resilient trade corridors.

Diversified corridors help your business stay strong when one route faces delays or risk. The Khalifa Port Umm Qasr route now offers shippers one clear and steady channel. Reliable channels lower costs because firms plan loads early and avoid sudden route changes. AD Ports Group also wants the route to open fresh chances for local firms. New chances mean more jobs, more trade, and more growth across the GCC market. You see how one route can lift trade for an entire group of nations. The link also supports stronger regional connectivity logistics for ports along the trade path. Stronger ports handle more ships, cut wait times, and keep cargo moving without stops. These services now give the region a strong base for future trade and growth.

Why the new route matters for you

You gain faster delivery, clearer costs, and steadier supply chains through this single route. AD Ports’ integrated logistics services keep goods on the move between the UAE and Iraq. Businesses across the UAE-Iraq trade corridor now plan with far greater future certainty. The new path shows how strong ports lift trade for whole regions over time. This approach reflects a regional connectivity logistics strategy built for steady, lasting trade growth. You can expect this corridor to carry more trade as demand keeps rising steadily. AD Ports Group plans to keep building links across the Gulf and beyond it.

  • 3 min read
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