Bitcoin Updates: UAE’s Holdings in Bitcoin Triple as the Gulf Region Adopts Digital Gold

The Abu Dhabi Investment Council (ADIC) and its parent organization, Mubadala Investment Co., have together purchased more than 16 million shares of BlackRock's

(IBIT), marking a major institutional commitment to cryptocurrency. ADIC's holdings alone have surged to 8 million shares—worth roughly $518 million as of September 30, 2025—while , according to regulatory disclosures and Bloomberg. This development places the UAE among the largest state-level owners of , whether via ETFs or direct purchases, .

The iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF, which leads the crypto ETF market with assets exceeding $70 billion,

. The ETF posted a 6.2% gain in Q3 2025, but has since experienced $3.1 billion in withdrawals during November alone, in a single day. ADIC increased its exposure just before Bitcoin fell by 20%, prompting scrutiny over the timing of the move. , describing Bitcoin as a “store of value akin to gold,” and highlighting its importance for portfolio diversification.

The UAE’s move into Bitcoin is in line with both regional and international trends. Sovereign wealth funds and governments are increasingly channeling investments into crypto assets as part of their diversification efforts.

a $2 billion stake in Binance using a stablecoin associated with the family of U.S. President Donald Trump. At the same time, to promote blockchain and CBDC projects under Vision 2030 highlights the Gulf’s expanding role in digital finance.

ADIC’s investment also demonstrates Abu Dhabi’s goal of becoming a center for cryptocurrency. The emirate has launched the Digital Dirham—a stablecoin backed by the central bank—and established a regulatory system to attract crypto businesses. Mubadala’s earlier $2 billion Binance investment further signals the region’s enthusiasm for digital assets. However,

among large investors. holdings in 2025, but ongoing outflows in the sector underscore the difficulties of navigating crypto’s volatility.

Market experts point out that ADIC’s sizable investment—within a $1.7 trillion asset portfolio—reflects trust in regulated crypto offerings.

, which adopted Bitcoin as legal tender in 2021 and recently boosted its reserves by $100 million. , making its first cryptocurrency purchase in late 2025.

Even with the UAE’s optimistic outlook,

. Bitcoin’s latest decline below key technical thresholds has fueled bearish sentiment, with the RSI indicator nearing oversold levels for major coins like and . , with sophisticated investors increasing their short bets on Bitcoin futures.