Page 80 - Aamir Rehman Gulf Capital and Islamic Finance The Rise of the New Global Players
P. 80
64 PART I Background and Context
T ABLE 2.5
UAE-Based Government Investment Vehicles Reflect Areas of
Strategic Focus for the National Economy 1
Government
Investment
Vehicle (GIV) Emirate Year Established Strategic Focus
International Petroleum Abu Dhabi 1984 Energy—oil and gas
Investment Company
(IPIC)
Mubadala Abu Dhabi 2002 Industrials and energy
Development
Company
Istithmar World Dubai 2002 Real estate and retail
Dubai International Dubai 2004 Diversified private and
Capital (DIC) public equity
RAK Investment Ras al 2005 Natural resources—
Corporation Khaimah energy and minerals
Dubai International Dubai 2006 Financial services
Financial Centre
(DIFC) Investments
Investment Corporation Dubai 2006 Real estate and financial
of Dubai services
1
William Miracky et al., “Assessing the Risks: The Behaviours of Sovereign Wealth Funds in the Global
Economy,” Monitor Group, June 2008; Zawya, “Wealth Funds in the UAE Lead Way with Transparency,”
March 3, 2009; miscellaneous details verified from individual GIV Web sites.
Abu Dhabi economy, its vehicle International Petroleum Investment
Company (IPIC) focuses on this strategic sector. To support Abu
Dhabi’s diversification, however, investment in a wider rage of
industries is required—hence, the creation of Mubadala in 2002.
Dubai’s economy has been built through logistics (i.e., ports) and
transportation, financial services, hospitality, real estate, retail, and
other key sectors. Dubai’s GIVs have accordingly been focused on
real estate, retail, and financial services, while the government has
channeled resources to transportation and hospitality through
heavy investment in infrastructure. Ras Al Khaimah, a smaller
emirate that has begun pursuing a diversification strategy through
its RAK Free Zone, has also established an investment vehicle for
key sectors.
Specialist GIVs are linked to Gulf states’ broader institutional
framework for allocating surplus wealth, as discussed earlier.