Abu Dhabi-based International Holding Company (IHC) has announced a major global expansion initiative, pledging to invest $24 billion over the next nine months in key international markets. The bold move underscores the conglomerate’s ambition to evolve into a world-leading investment powerhouse while supporting the UAE’s broader vision for economic diversification and global competitiveness.
The new expansion plan, unveiled by IHC CEO Syed Basar Shueb, focuses on deploying capital across mining, energy, industry, and emerging technologies, as well as reinforcing its footprint in high-growth international markets. The funds will come from a mix of existing cash reserves, divestment proceeds, and new strategic partnerships, ensuring that the company maintains liquidity and flexibility while pursuing growth.
According to Shueb, IHC currently holds $10–12 billion in available capital, enabling the conglomerate to move quickly on large-scale acquisitions and partnerships. The company’s broader goal is to double its asset base to around $218 billion by 2030, positioning itself among the world’s top diversified investment groups.
The announcement follows a period of active restructuring within IHC’s portfolio. The company recently merged three major subsidiaries—2PointZero, Multiply Group, and Ghitha Holding—into a single entity valued at around AED 120 billion ($33 billion). The merger aims to streamline operations, create synergies, and boost growth across the energy, industrial, and consumer sectors.
As part of its global strategy, IHC plans to divest two to three companies in the next 18 months to optimize its portfolio and reallocate resources toward high-potential international assets. Shueb emphasized that the company’s approach is not just about scaling up, but about “investing, growing, divesting, and reinvesting” — a cycle designed to maintain momentum and profitability.
The $24 billion expansion fund will prioritize strategic acquisitions in South America, Africa, and Asia, targeting opportunities that align with long-term global trends such as renewable energy transition, sustainable manufacturing, and digital infrastructure. Analysts say the move signals the UAE’s growing economic influence as its flagship firms channel capital into global growth sectors.
IHC’s overseas expansion aligns closely with Abu Dhabi’s economic diversification agenda, which seeks to reduce reliance on oil revenues by promoting innovation, industrial growth, and global investment leadership. The company, which began as a small holding firm, has become the UAE’s largest listed company by market capitalization, with investments spanning healthcare, real estate, food production, and technology.
Despite its aggressive international push, IHC confirmed it has no plans to sell its stake in Aldar Properties, one of Abu Dhabi’s largest real estate developers, calling it a “core long-term holding.” This demonstrates the group’s intent to balance new ventures with stable domestic assets.
Industry experts view IHC’s expansion as part of a larger pattern among Gulf-based conglomerates that are increasingly channeling sovereign and private capital into international markets. With $24 billion ready for deployment, IHC is expected to play a leading role in shaping cross-border investments from the Gulf.
Through this ambitious move, IHC aims not only to boost its global presence but also to position Abu Dhabi as a central hub for sustainable and strategic investment flows, reinforcing the UAE’s role as a catalyst for innovation, industrial growth, and long-term global prosperity.
