Mubadala

Starbucks plans to open 30 new stores in Brazil in 2026, a 33% increase from its current number. The chain is now operated by Zamp, a Mubadala-backed group managing Burger King in Brazil. The expansion follows the collapse of former partner SouthRock, which went bankrupt in 2023 with $360m in debts.

Mubadala has opened its credit business to external parties, marking a shift in its operational strategy. This move aims to expand access to credit services beyond its existing network.

Mubadala has opened a $25 billion credit business to outside investors. The announcement is attributed to Khaldoon Al Mubarak.

Abu Dhabi's Mubadala has engaged Santander to find buyers for its controlling stake in MetroRio, the company operating Rio de Janeiro's subway. The sale involves the entity that manages the Rio Metro system.

Abu Dhabi’s MGX has raised $50 billion for AI investments, supported by regional sovereign wealth funds and global investors. The fund, launched in 2024 and chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, aims to diversify the economy through AI. It has already invested in OpenAI, xAI, and Anthropic.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, canceled a planned visit to Abu Dhabi amid uncertainty related to the Iran war, with meetings intended with Mubadala, G42, MGX, and ADNOC. OpenAI, which is preparing for a public market debut, has deep ties to UAE entities, including MGX, an investor in the company.

Blue Owl Capital, a private credit firm managing $315 billion in assets, is opening a regional headquarters in Abu Dhabi's ADGM financial hub. The move reflects growing interest in the UAE capital's proximity to sovereign wealth funds like ADIA and Mubadala, despite rising challenges in the private credit sector, including defaults and redemption requests.

Traditional financial institutions are increasingly adopting crypto, with banks and exchanges offering crypto products as demand grows. Kraken's CEO predicts widespread crypto adoption in 2026, driven by stablecoins and tokenized equities, while institutions continue buying Bitcoin despite its price decline.

Abu Dhabi’s Khaldoon Al Mubarak announced accelerated $1.4 trillion US investment commitments over a decade, focusing on technology and energy infrastructure despite economic challenges. The UAE has secured over $100 billion in trade and investment deals since 2025, with key partnerships in AI, energy, and manufacturing, including collaborations with firms like MGX, Judan, and G42.

UAE-based MGX increased its pre-IPO stake in Anthropic following a $65 billion fundraise, which values the AI company at $965 billion. MGX, chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, holds stakes in Anthropic, OpenAI, and xAI, all expected to go public in 2024. Anthropic initially rejected regional investments but later accepted funding from Gulf states including the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

Gulf sovereign wealth funds increased dealmaking by $26 billion in March-May 2024, despite regional tensions from the Iran war and oil revenue disruptions due to the Strait of Hormuz closure. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund led with a $6 billion investment in Chinese game developer Moonton Technology, while Qatar Investment Authority slowed its pace of investing.

Mubadala, an Abu Dhabi-based sovereign fund, added over $90 million to its position in BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF, while Harvard dumped ether ETF. This move indicates a strategic investment in bitcoin. The investment amount is substantial, totaling over $90 million.

M42, an Abu Dhabi healthcare company backed by Mubadala, is pitching its genomic sequencing capabilities to governments and pharmaceutical companies worldwide. The firm has sequenced nearly 1 million genetic samples and is launching AI chatbots for chronic disease management, starting with kidney.com. M42 plans to expand its data-driven healthcare model globally and develop additional condition-specific platforms.