Abu Dhabi — Mubadala Investment Company reaffirmed its commitment to building long-term strategic partnerships and driving sustainable growth through active participation in the World Economic Forum 2026, held in Davos from January 19 to 23 under the theme “Spirit of Dialogue.”

The forum announced the appointment of Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Managing Director and Group CEO of Mubadala, as Chairman of the International Business Council.

 This milestone marks the first time a figure from the Middle East has assumed the role, underscoring the UAE’s growing influence in shaping global economic policy. Al Mubarak will serve a two-year term, leading one of the forum’s most prominent strategic platforms.

During a keynote session titled “Where Are the Next Frontiers of Growth?” Al Mubarak highlighted the UAE’s diversified and advanced economy, its strong global integration, and its transition from reliance on traditional energy production to embracing new growth enablers. 

He emphasized Mubadala’s increasing focus on sectors driven by artificial intelligence, including semiconductors, data infrastructure, life sciences, healthcare, and biotechnology, noting AI’s transformative potential across industries.

Al Mubarak stressed Mubadala’s flexible investment strategy, unconstrained by geography or sector, and its pursuit of strong partners in promising markets. He pointed to the company’s expanding presence in Asia and its commitment to strengthening existing partnerships while exploring new opportunities in priority sectors.

“Our economy is stable and highly diversified, built on foundations of peace, prosperity, and growth,” Al Mubarak said. “We once produced oil alone; today we produce energy in all its forms — oil, gas, solar, and nuclear — at competitive economic costs.

 As we move toward the future, artificial intelligence is at the core of our work, enabling us to create major projects that deliver what is now known as the energy of the future.”

In an interview with Bloomberg News on the sidelines of the forum, Al Mubarak underscored the importance of Mubadala’s domestic investments, noting that a significant portion of its portfolio is based in the UAE. He revealed that Mubadala’s UAE portfolio has generated returns exceeding 20% across sectors such as real estate, infrastructure, industry, technology, and healthcare, reflecting the company’s strong performance and market presence.

Waleed Al Mokarrab Al Muhairi, Mubadala’s Deputy Group CEO, also emphasized in interviews with CNBC and Bloomberg House the importance of disciplined, long-term capital deployment across diverse sectors and geographies.

He highlighted the opportunities emerging markets present, particularly in infrastructure and private investments, and stressed Mubadala’s commitment to creating sustainable, long-term value through proactive risk management and strategic foresight.

Al Muhairi noted: “Resilience lies in combining traditional conservative tools with forward-thinking, actionable steps. It’s not only about building the portfolio, but also about managing risks, anticipating future trends, and setting strategic priorities.”

Mubadala’s active role at Davos 2026 reflects the UAE’s growing leadership in global innovation and economic transformation, positioning Abu Dhabi as a hub for multi-sectoral progress and sustainable investment.