Gulf sovereign wealth funds push ahead with $136 bn of deals despite war

Consultancy Global SWF projects that Gulf sovereign wealth funds will commit $136 billion to investments by the end of the year, marking 2026 as their second-busiest investing period on record. Mubadala of Abu Dhabi leads with $26.2 billion already invested, and roughly 50% of the region’s sovereign fund capital is directed toward U.S. assets, underscoring continued American appeal. These funds are also major financiers of the $110 billion Warner Bros. takeover.

In Kuwait and Qatar, the sovereign funds may be called upon to support government budgets as oil export volumes decline through the Strait of Hormuz. Despite these fiscal pressures, the Gulf funds are expected to expand rapidly, with assets projected to reach $8.8 trillion by 2030, up from $6.1 trillion.