Top 10 Sovereign Wealth Funds

As the notoriously private wealth vehicles gain increased visibility, especially with their emerging markets investment push, Gulf Business lists the top 10 SWFs in the world.

Gulf Business brings you the top ten SWFs ranked on asset size as estimated by the SWF Institute in July 2012.

1. Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, UAE ($627 billion)

Established in 1976, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) currently handles an estimated $627 billion worth of funds. The fund’s largest investments are in North America, however, ADIA plans to shift its focus to emerging markets. The fund even brought in private equity firm AXA’s chief operating officer Christophe Florin in May this year to head its emerging markets private equity team.

Currently ADIA counts Citigroup bonds and a stake in Britain’s Gatwick Airport among its investments

SAMA Foreign Holdings, Saudi Arabia ($532.8 billion)

Controlled by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA), SAMA Foreign Holdings holds $532.8 billion in assets, up 12.7 per cent from $472.5 billion in February 2012. The fund focuses on low-risk fixed income investments.

The fund is extremely secretive regarding its investments and strategies

Kuwait Investment Authority, Kuwait ($296 billion)

The Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) is one of the oldest SWFs, established in 1953, and manages the General Reserve Fund and the assets of the Future Generations Fund on behalf of the state of Kuwait.

In June this year, KIA, announced a $500 million investment in the Russian Direct Investment Fund.

Earlier this year, the fund became the second from the Middle East – after ADIA ¬– to receive the status of a Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (QFII) in China’s capital market