SovereignWealthFunds.comDubai World
Dubai World: what it invests in
Geography Domestic and global
Dubai World: how big it is, and on what basis
Dubai World: what it publishes
Published 1 · Partly 3 · Not published 6
Our 10 item score. It measures what is public, not how well a fund is run.
- Total assetsS7
- Not disclosed
At a glance. Dubai World is a Government of Dubai holding company set up by law in 2006 and run on a commercial, for-profit basis. Its group has included DP World, Drydocks World, Economic Zones World, Nakheel and the investment arm Istithmar World. It does not publish its total assets, returns or accounts; listed subsidiaries such as DP World report on their own. S1 S3 S4 S5
Key points
- Strategic areas: transport and logistics, drydocks and maritime, urban development, and investment and financial services. S3
- Majority owner of port operator DP World, as described in 2017. S3
- Launched in July 2006 with more than 50,000 staff in over 100 cities. S4
- Net profits go to the government after a reserve set by the board. S1
- The government is not liable for the debts of Dubai World or its subsidiaries under Article 15 of the law. S1
- Its law lets it build and run airports, seaports and free zones as well as invest in any financial business. S1
Interesting facts
Mandate and goals
A public corporation of the Government of Dubai, managed on a commercial basis to earn profits, that invests in and runs businesses which promote Dubai as a hub for trade. S1 S4
How it invests
| Industries | Transport and logistics, Infrastructure and utilities, Real estate, Industrials and manufacturing, Financial services S3 S4 |
|---|---|
| Asset classes | Strategic state holdings, Real estate, Infrastructure, Private equity S3 |
| Stages | Buyout, Infrastructure, Real estate S3 |
| Geography | Domestic and global. Dubai-based group whose companies operate worldwide, such as DP World ports and Drydocks World yards S3 S4 |
| Direct / through funds / co-invest | Yes / No / Not published S1 |
| Ticket size | No minimum or ticket size is published. S7 |
| External managers | Not published S7 |
| Co-investment programme | Not published S7 |
Past investments
| Year | Investment | Type | Sector | Stage | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | ALNOKHADA floating crane (Drydocks World). 5,000-tonne crane launched afloat; delivery planned for mid 2026. S6 | New company or platform | Industrials and manufacturing | Not stated | Not published |
| 2025 | Drydocks World head office. Construction of a new head office began in November 2025. S8 | Direct investment | Real estate | Real estate | Not published |
| 2013 | Drydocks World and Indonesia maritime cluster. Memorandum for a joint venture to build a maritime cluster. S4 | Joint venture or partnership | Industrials and manufacturing | Infrastructure | USD 2.5B |
| Not published | DP World. Port operator; majority owned by Dubai World as described in 2017. S3 | Direct investment | Transport and logistics | Infrastructure | Not published |
| Not published | Economic Zones World. Parent of the Jebel Ali Free Zone. S3 S4 | New company or platform | Infrastructure and utilities | Infrastructure | Not published |
| Not published | Nakheel Properties. Developer of the Palm Islands and The World. S4 | New company or platform | Real estate | Real estate | Not published |
| Not published | Istithmar World. Group investment company. S3 S4 | New company or platform | Financial services | Not stated | Not published |
| Not published | Dubai Maritime City. Maritime district development. S4 | New company or platform | Real estate | Real estate | Not published |
Case studies
DP World: a global port operator S3 S5
- What: Dubai World has been the majority owner of DP World, which runs ports and logistics businesses worldwide.
- When: Since 2006
- Size: Not published
- Why: Ports and logistics are the first of its four strategic areas.
- Outcome: DP World reported USD 24.4B of revenue and USD 6.4B of EBITDA for 2025.
Nakheel: building new land S4
- What: Its property arm Nakheel developed the Palm Islands and The World.
- When: 2000s
- Size: Not published
- Why: Urban development is one of Dubai World's strategic areas.
Drydocks World: maritime industry S8 S6
- What: Drydocks World started a new head office and launched a 5,000-tonne floating crane.
- When: November 2025
- Size: Not published
- Why: Drydocks and maritime is one of its strategic areas.
- Outcome: Crane delivery planned for mid 2026.
Investment process
The Ruler of Dubai appoints the Chairman by decree. The Chairman forms the board, which serves renewable three-year terms, and holds executive management. Subsidiaries run their own businesses. S1 S3
| Committee | Role |
|---|---|
| Board of Directors | Chaired by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum; three-year renewable terms S3 |
How to approach: No public process for outside investors is published. Group companies such as DP World and Drydocks World have their own contact pages. S7
Size and returns
Leadership
Governance and transparency
- Legal basis: Law No. 3 of 2006 of the Emirate of Dubai S1
- Oversight: Ruler of Dubai, who appoints the Chairman; board formed by Decree No. 3 of 2017 S1 S3
- Auditor: An external auditor licensed in the UAE, appointed for one renewable year as the law requires; name not published S1
- Listed or bond-issuing subsidiaries such as DP World publish their own results. S5
Transparency score: 2.5 of 10 (band 2 of 5). Our own 10-item rubric; see the methodology page.
History
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2006-03-02 | Law No. 3 of 2006 issued. S1 |
| 2006-07-02 | Launched as a holding company. S4 |
| 2010-12-12 | Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum named Chairman. S4 |
| 2013-01-29 | Drydocks World signs Indonesia joint venture memorandum. S4 |
| 2017-02 | Decree No. 3 forms a new board. S3 |
| 2025-11 | Drydocks World head office and crane milestones. S8 S6 |
For family offices
Dubai World runs no programme for outside investors and publishes no intake route. Outside capital meets the group through its operating companies. S7 S5
Reports
Common questions
When was Dubai World set up?
By Law No. 3 of 2006, issued on 2 March 2006. S1
Is Dubai World the same as DP World?
No. DP World is a port operator that Dubai World was described as majority owning in 2017. S3
Who chairs Dubai World?
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. S3 S4
How big is Dubai World?
It does not publish its total assets. Its largest company, DP World, reported USD 24.4 billion of revenue for 2025. S7 S5
Is it an IFSWF member?
No. S2
Related profiles
- Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) United Arab Emirates (Dubai) · AED 1,680B
- ADQ and L'IMAD Holding United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi) · AED 996.8B
- Dubai Holding United Arab Emirates (Dubai) · AED 500B
- Dubai Investment Fund United Arab Emirates (Dubai) · About USD 80B, estimate
- Mumtalakat Holding Company Bahrain · BHD 7.22B
- Wafra Kuwait · KD 119.0M
All sovereign wealth funds in Middle East · All state holding companys · All funds in United Arab Emirates
Sources
- S1Dubai Legislation Portal, Law No. 3 of 2006 establishing Dubai World
- S2IFSWF, members list
- S3Gulf Time, decree forming the Dubai World board
- S4Wikipedia, Dubai World (revision of 15 June 2026)
- S5DP World, 2025 results release
- S6Dubai Media Office, Drydocks World launches ALNOKHADA
- S7Dubai World, home page
- S8Dubai Media Office, Drydocks World breaks ground on new head office
- S9Gulf Business, new Dubai World board named
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