Awqaf Dubai, formally the Endowment and Minors' Trust Foundation in Dubai, has reported strong investment performance for the first half of 2026. The market value of its securities investment portfolio climbed to AED1.475 billion, an increase of AED76.5 million, or 5.5 percent, reflecting what the institution describes as disciplined portfolio management and efficient use of its financial assets.
The results matter beyond the balance sheet. Awqaf Dubai channels investment returns into community focused programmes, including education, healthcare, social welfare and humanitarian services, so stronger performance here has a direct downstream effect on the causes the institution funds.
The numbers behind the headline
By the end of H1 2026, the cost value of the securities investment portfolio stood at approximately AED1.398 billion, up 16.6 percent from AED1.199 billion in the same period of 2025. New investments made during the first half totalled AED285.11 million, more than double the AED113.75 million recorded a year earlier, a jump of 150.65 percent.
| Metric | H1 2026 | H1 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio market value | AED1.475 billion | n/a | +5.5% (AED76.5m) |
| Portfolio cost value | AED1.398 billion | AED1.199 billion | +16.6% |
| New investments made | AED285.11 million | AED113.75 million | +150.65% |
| Recurring investment returns | AED34.9 million | AED27.9 million | +25% |
Returns held up even without one-off gains
The portfolio generated total returns of AED51.6 million in H1 2026, made up of AED34.9 million in recurring investment returns and AED16.7 million in non-recurring gains. Strip out the one-off gains and recurring returns alone still grew 25 percent year on year, from AED27.9 million to AED34.9 million, which Awqaf Dubai points to as evidence of the portfolio's underlying operational sustainability rather than a one-time windfall.
His Excellency Ali Mohammed Al Mutawa, Secretary General of Awqaf Dubai, said the results reflect a balanced investment strategy built on disciplined execution, prudent risk management and maximising sustainable returns, adding that investment is viewed as a key enabler of endowment sustainability and developmental impact. Dr Ahmad Al Yassi, Director of the Investment Department at Awqaf Dubai, said the results reflect confidence in the financial markets, supported by the strength of the UAE economy, and reaffirmed the institution's commitment to growing endowment assets through diversified portfolios.
Why endowment performance is an economic signal too
Awqaf Dubai's growth adds to a broader pattern this year of Dubai institutions posting stronger investment and lending results, including Dubai Islamic Bank's Dh12.4 billion revenue for H1 2026, a signal that confidence in UAE financial markets extends beyond conventional banks and into endowment and trust management as well. For an institution managing minors' funds and charitable assets, steady, prudent, low risk growth matters more than aggressive returns, and the H1 2026 figures suggest that balance is holding.
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What to watch next
With new investments already up more than 150 percent year on year, the second half of 2026 will show whether Awqaf Dubai can sustain that pace of capital deployment while keeping the low risk, capital preservation focus that defines its mandate.
