What do a UK airport, a spaceship, the London Eye, Dunkin’ Donuts, one of Manhattan’s tallest skyscrapers and a championship English football club have in common?
The answer is that each are – or have been – part-owned by the UAE’s wealthy government-related entities.
Since discovering oil in the 1960s, the UAE has invested its petrodollars in a slew of trophy assets around the world in a bid to diversify its economy. Dubai led the field in its boom years, snapping up assets as varied as a Las Vegas casino company, to luxury department stores.
Abu Dhabi, home to one of world’s largest wealth funds, hasn’t been far behind with stakes in a space tourism company, top-end carmakers and iconic US skyscraper the Chrysler Building in its investment portfolio.
As the UAE celebrates its 40 National Day, take a closer look at how the Gulf country [click here] has taken a seat at some of the biggest boardrooms in the world.
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