Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund is set to acquire the automotive division of McLaren, the renowned British supercar manufacturer, in a move that reshapes the ownership of one of the UK’s most iconic motoring brands.
The deal follows a difficult period for the Woking-based firm, which recorded a record annual loss of £924 million in 2023, up sharply from £349 million the previous year. Under the agreement, McLaren’s longtime majority shareholder, the Bahraini state-owned investment vehicle Mumtalakat, will retain control of the racing arm, while Abu Dhabi’s CYVN Holdings – backed by the trillion-dollar Abu Dhabi Investment Authority – steps in as a minority shareholder.
The signing ceremony was reportedly witnessed by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and son of UAE president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, underscoring the strategic importance of the acquisition for the emirate. In a statement, Abu Dhabi described the move as “a defining moment” in CYVN’s plan to build a “leading, globally connected mobility…