Abu Dhabi Investment Council plans to deploy $15 billion in global hedge funds, leveraging total return swaps to amplify exposure. The move signals the emirate’s shift toward higher‑yield strategies amid a growing regional hedge‑fund hub.

The strategy focuses on multistrategy firms that have delivered steady returns recently, though other approaches remain on the table. ADIC’s chief investment officer highlighted hedge funds’ ability to supply diversification and downside protection.

By using total return swaps, ADIC can receive full economic returns while paying a fee, enabling rapid scale-up with significant leverage. Losses could mount faster than conventional assets, underscoring the boldness of the bet.

This initiative dovetails with ADIC’s broader push to unlock at least 10% returns across its $160 billion portfolio, expanding into Bitcoin, private credit, and secondaries while courting top hedge‑fund names in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.