A sovereign wealth fund (SWF) is a state-owned investment fund made up of money generated by the government, often derived from the country's surplus reserves, typically from resources like oil, gas, or other exports. These funds are managed with the goal of generating long-term returns, diversifying the country's assets, and ensuring economic stability. SWFs invest in a variety of assets, including stocks, bonds, real estate, and other projects, both domestically and internationally.
Many countries with significant natural resources establish SWFs as a way to manage wealth derived from these resources for future generations and to help stabilize the economy against fluctuations in commodity prices. Some well-known SWFs include Norway's Government Pension Fund Global, which invests surplus oil revenues, and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, which is funded by the United Arab Emirates' oil wealth. In Oman, the Oman Investment Authority (OIA) functions as the country's SWF, managing investments to support national development and economic sustainability.