The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) has reported continued growth in its global development role, with cumulative financing reaching AED 249.86 billion by the end of 2025, supporting projects across 108 countries.
Outlined in its 2025 Annual Report, the Fund’s activity reflects an increasingly structured approach to delivering large-scale development programmes, combining finance, partnerships, and project execution to drive economic and social outcomes.
From a project management perspective, the model highlights the growing importance of integrated programme delivery, where funding, governance, and long-term impact are closely aligned.
Scaling global development through structured investment
Since its inception in 1971, ADFD has deployed AED 158.96 billion in concessional loans, alongside AED 58.23 billion in government grants and AED 2.18 billion in direct contributions. In 2025 alone, the Fund financed 13 development projects valued at AED 2.2 billion, targeting sectors including renewable energy, infrastructure, education, technology, and water security.
These investments are designed not only to deliver infrastructure, but to create long-term economic capacity, improve quality of life, and strengthen resilience in partner countries.
H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan said:
“ADFD continues to play a leading role as one of the UAE’s key development arms, serving as a strategic engine that transforms its vision of translating partnerships into tangible outcomes for a prosperous future. Since its inception, the Fund has connected the UAE to the world, sharing its development expertise and strengthening its position as a model institution supporting international economic stability and sustainable community development.”
He added:
“Since 1971, ADFD has advanced development beyond financing, building real economic capacities in partner countries. By enabling communities to invest their resources and create opportunities, the Fund directly improves quality of life – its efforts have recognised both regionally and internationally through credible awards, reflecting its commitment to enabling strategic projects that advance key sectors.”
Linking development finance with national economic strategy
Alongside its international mandate, ADFD continues to play a central role in strengthening the UAE’s economy through export development. Its export financing arm, Abu Dhabi Exports Office (ADEX), has extended more than AED 6.6 billion in financing, enabling UAE companies to enter over 40 global markets and supporting more than 34 export-focused agreements.
This dual focus, combining international development with domestic economic growth, reflects a programme-led approach where investment portfolios are aligned to both national strategy and global impact.
H.H. Sheikh Mansour added:
“Globally, the Fund has pioneered an innovative investment model, expanding and diversifying its portfolio across emerging and established markets. This approach aligns economic returns with partner countries’ development objectives while creating sustainable local employment, reaffirming ADFD’s status as a leading financial institution with global impact.”
Development as a strategic delivery model
The report positions development finance as a structured delivery mechanism, not just a funding tool. By combining investment, policy alignment, and stakeholder coordination, ADFD is effectively operating at a programme level across multiple countries and sectors.
H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said:
“Since its establishment, the UAE believed that cooperation and partnership among nations are the foundations of stability and prosperity. Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) brings this vision to life, serving as a key pillar of the UAE’s global presence through development diplomacy, one of the country’s main soft power drivers, rooted in solidarity, shared progress, and humanitarian values.”
He added:
“Today, ADFD continues to advance in line with the UAE’s long-term strategic goals and the UAE Centennial 2071, by introducing new cooperation models and expanding partnerships with regional and international organisations. These efforts enable ADFD to respond effectively to global economic and humanitarian shifts, while ensuring its programmes deliver meaningful impact.”
A forward-looking delivery model
ADFD’s investment portfolio also reached AED 13.59 billion, supporting economic development, financial system strengthening, and job creation across partner nations. The Fund’s approach increasingly centres on aligning financial performance with measurable development outcomes.
H.E. Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of ADFD, said:
“The 2025 Annual Report provides a strategic overview of the Fund’s sustained development journey, implemented in collaboration with partner countries and international institutions, in alignment with the UAE’s vision of placing sustainable development at the core of global economic and social stability. Through the integration of advanced resources and expertise, ADFD has advanced high-impact projects that deliver sustainable infrastructure, foster long-term economic growth, and generate tangible benefits for communities.”
He added:
“By linking global developmental outcomes with support for the national economy, the Fund also facilitates the growth of UAE exports and strengthens the country’s position as a key player in international markets.”
From financing to delivery
The scale and structure of ADFD’s activity underline a broader shift in global development. Success is no longer defined by capital deployed alone, but by the ability to deliver coordinated, outcome-driven programmes across complex environments.
As development challenges grow more interconnected, the ability to manage these initiatives with the discipline of large-scale programme management is becoming a defining capability.
