UAE Mined $454M in Bitcoin, Holds $344M Profit as Supply Tightens

• UAE mined 6,782 BTC worth $454M via Citadel Mining, with $344M in estimated unrealized profit.
• Royal Group-backed operation shows no major sales, signaling a long-term Bitcoin holding strategy.
• Over 36,000 BTC left exchanges in February, tightening supply as miners and long-term holders accumulate.

The United Arab Emirates has quietly emerged as a major Bitcoin accumulator, with fresh data showing the country has mined nearly $454 million worth of BTC through its partner, Citadel Mining.

According to on-chain analytics platform Arkham Intelligence, the UAE’s Royal Group has mined a total of 6,782 BTC since operations began in March 2022. At current prices, the holdings are worth approximately $453.6 million. Excluding energy and infrastructure costs, the operation is estimated to be sitting on around $344 million in unrealized profit.

Strategic Bitcoin Accumulation, Not Seizure

Unlike some nations that have accumulated Bitcoin through seizures, the UAE’s stash was generated entirely through mining. The operation is run by Citadel Mining, backed by Royal Group and chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Blockchain data shows steady inflows from mining pools like Foundry Digital, with no major sales recorded since mining expanded in late 2025. The last notable outflows were about four months ago, pointing to a long-term holding approach.

Citadel’s Abu Dhabi facility, developed with Phoenix Group in 2022, has mined thousands of Bitcoin using the country’s relatively low-cost energy.

Although Royal Group has close ties to Abu Dhabi’s ruling family, the Bitcoin is not officially part of sovereign wealth funds like Abu Dhabi Investment Authority or ADQ. Still, its connections often lead analysts to view the holdings as state-aligned exposure.

UAE Expands Broader Bitcoin Exposure

Beyond mining, the UAE is also increasing its institutional exposure. Mubadala Investment Company recently boosted its spot Bitcoin ETF holdings by 45%, bringing its allocation to approximately $630 million.

These moves align with the UAE’s broader push to position Dubai and Abu Dhabi as regulated, crypto-friendly jurisdictions. With structured frameworks and active infrastructure development, the Emirates continue to attract global blockchain players.

Miner Withdrawals Add to Bullish Signals

The United Arab Emirates’s long-term Bitcoin strategy comes as miner activity points to growing confidence in the market.

Data from CryptoQuant shows more than 36,000 BTC have been withdrawn from exchanges since early February. Over 12,000 BTC left Binance alone, with the rest spread across other platforms.

Large withdrawals like these are often moved into cold storage, reducing the amount of Bitcoin available for immediate sale. In one day, over 6,000 BTC left exchanges, the biggest daily outflow since November.

Long-term holders have also added more than 380,000 BTC in the past 30 days, signaling steady demand.

Related: U.S.-Listed Bitcoin Miners Hold Near-Record Hashrate Share Despite AI Shift and Storm Disruptions

Market Context

Bitcoin was recently trading near $66,450, down about 1.5% in 24 hours. Earlier this month, it briefly dipped close to $60,000 amid broader market volatility.

With energy-rich countries like the UAE mining and holding rather than buying on exchanges, and miners moving coins off exchanges, the available supply may continue to tighten. As institutions and long-term holders quietly accumulate, Bitcoin’s role in the digital economy appears to be strengthening.