Mubadala Reports Largest Total Comprehensive Income in Its History

Mubadala Reports Largest Total Comprehensive Income in Its History
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Mubadala Reports Largest Total Comprehensive Income in Its History

Mubadala Reports Largest Total Comprehensive Income in Its History

The Mubadala Investment Company said it achieved in 2020 a total comprehensive income (TCI) attributable to the owner of AED72 billion for the year, compared to AED 53 billion in 2019. It's the largest TCI in Mubadala’s history, driven by significant growth in Mubadala’s public equities portfolio and funds, and its assets across various sectors.

This came as the Abu Dhabi sovereign investor, released its 2020 financial results for the Group on Thursday.

The performance was also attributable to Mubadala’s multi-year strategy to increase investments in sectors with growth ‘tailwinds,’ such as technology, life sciences, and consumer goods, through direct investments and partnerships with leading fund managers, state news agency WAM reported.

Major investments in 2020 reinforced that strategy, including long-term agreements with Silver Lake in technology; in life sciences with PCI Pharma in the US, and in consumer goods and telecommunications with the Reliance Group of India, as well as new commitments and deployments with Apax Partners, Citadel, iSquared Capital and CVC.

Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Managing Director and Group CEO of Mubadala, said: "Last year, as the world confronted a tragic pandemic, we worked closely with our partners and portfolio companies to offer support to communities hit hard by COVID-19. Across the group, our employees dedicated themselves to helping these communities during this crisis, and that important work will continue."

"We navigated our portfolio through the dramatic macro-economic decline of early 2020, and decided to accelerate the pace of our capital deployment, ending the year with record profit and growth. In line with our long-term strategy, we increased our investments in sectors where we have high conviction, and with high performing fund managers. Technology and life sciences in particular have been essential to the world over the last year, and we see those sectors bringing greater opportunity for deeper investment. We have worked to be well-positioned in these areas and in key geographies as the global economy continues to recover."

Overall, the UAE and the US remain the largest geographic areas for the portfolio. In addition to its new capital deployment in India, Mubadala also invested through its sovereign investment partnerships in France, China and Russia in 2020.

At year-end, assets under management across the Group stood at AED 894 billion, compared to AED 853 billion in 2019.

Group Chief Financial Officer Carlos Obeid, said: "This strong performance was a reflection of our agility as an investor, as well as our globally diversified portfolio of equities, funds, and mature and growing companies. In 2020 we took advantage of the historically low interest rates to lower our cost of borrowing and extend its weighted average life on the back of strong investor demand for our bond issuances. We continue to maintain a prudent gearing ratio standing at 9.1 percent and a strong cash position as we manage through this economic cycle with a long-term view."



Gulf States Accelerate Adoption of Unified Digital Government Platforms

A Tawakkalna app events in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A Tawakkalna app events in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Gulf States Accelerate Adoption of Unified Digital Government Platforms

A Tawakkalna app events in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A Tawakkalna app events in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Gulf governments are moving swiftly to leverage modern technology in reshaping citizen-government relations, with a strong push toward digital transformation and more efficient, user-centric public services.

At the forefront of this shift are unified government applications that constitute comprehensive digital platforms that combine smart technology with seamless usability.

According to a recent study by Strategy& Middle East, a member of the PwC network, these platforms are no longer optional but have become strategic necessities.

The study, titled “Unified Government Apps: Smart Choices for Services and Cost Control,” highlights that citizens and residents can now complete services such as issuing birth certificates, renewing business licenses, or applying for social support within minutes, without physically visiting a government office.

Tawakkalna: A Saudi Model

Saudi Arabia’s Tawakkalna app, originally launched as a health tool during the COVID-19 pandemic, has since evolved into a comprehensive digital gateway offering over 1,100 government services.

Dr. Esam Al-Wagait, Director of the National Information Center at the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), noted the Kingdom’s aim to build a proactive digital government powered by AI.

“We are creating an integrated system that uses advanced technology to predict citizen needs and deliver personalized experiences aligned with smart and sustainable city goals,” he said.

Engineer Saleh Mosaibah, Deputy Director of the National Information Center, added that unified platforms enhance inter-agency collaboration, reduce operational costs, strengthen cybersecurity, and boost Saudi Arabia’s regional and global competitiveness.

Challenges and Solutions

Despite progress, the study noted operational and technical challenges remain, particularly around user expectations for faster, smoother service. Repeated logins and redundant data entry were identified as key obstacles.

Engineer Hani Zein, Partner at Strategy& Middle East, stressed the need for seamless, single-entry platforms powered by artificial intelligence.

“Unified interfaces are the future. They improve service delivery, enhance quality of life, and align with Gulf digital transformation goals,” he said.

Investment and Private Sector Integration

Experts stress that building such applications requires significant investment in IT infrastructure, data integration, and cybersecurity. “These are not just tech expenses, they are investments in smarter, more cost-efficient governance,” said Mosaibah.

The private sector also presents growth opportunities. Licensed companies could offer services through government platforms for a fee, or strategic partnerships could bring in private funding and innovation without straining public budgets.

Building a Sustainable Model

To ensure sustainability, Zein recommends a three-pillar approach: an agile operational model inspired by startups, strong legal and financial frameworks, and robust risk management systems. These foundations, he said, enable governments to move quickly, innovate freely, and maintain public trust.

With the right strategy, Zein and Mosaibah believe Saudi Arabia is well-positioned to set global standards for integrated digital government, offering a world-class experience for citizens and residents alike.