UAE's Strategic Bitcoin Empire: Mined, Not Bought

UAE's strategic Bitcoin kingdom: mined rather than purchased.

Based on market rates and timing, blockchain analysis company Arkham Intelligence found that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) possesses a significant Bitcoin reserve of around 6,300–6,800 BTC (valued at roughly $450–700 million), acquired via state-linked mining rather than buying or seizures. Among identified government entities, this places the UAE as one of the best sovereign Bitcoin holders in the world, ranking about 4th to 6th. On Arkham's platform, the holdings are presently clearly marked to show how intentionally the country is entering digital assets.

The majority of Bitcoin comes from large-scale mining activities managed by Citadel Mining, a publicly traded firm majority-owned by the UAE Royal Group via the International Holding Company (IHC). Since establishing a big facility in Abu Dhabi in 2022 (confirmed by satellite imagery and on-chain flows), the operation has mined about 9,000+ BTC, with government-linked wallets storing the bulk—roughly 6,300–6,800 BTC—and some used elsewhere, including for companies like Phoenix Group.

This production-based technique separates the UAE from countries depending on seizures (as in the US or UK) or direct buys, therefore emphasizing a long-term commitment to the Bitcoin network and a more general economic diversifying plan into cryptocurrencies. Creating reserves through mining helps the UAE to reaffirm its position as a rising international crypto center with considerable sovereign exposure to digital assets.