The controversial debate about sovereign wealth funds, triggered by the aggressive buying of western assets by government investment entities from Asia and the Middle East, has been particularly frustrating for officials in Abu Dhabi.

For more than 30 years, the emirate’s Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (Adia), which is estimated to have assets in the range of $500bn to $850bn, has been quietly investing Abu Dhabi’s immense oil wealth with little fuss or attention. But the recent furore over SWF activities and questions about their motives and transparency has thrust Adia into the public spotlight.