UAE vs. IBIT
UAE (iShares MSCI UAE ETF) and IBIT (iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - UAE is a Emerging Markets Equities fund tracking the MSCI All UAE Capped Index, while IBIT is a Cryptocurrency fund tracking the CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate - New York Variant. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, UAE returned 9.56% vs -45.30% for IBIT. At a 0.20 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. UAE charges 0.59%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for IBIT.
Performance
UAE vs. IBIT - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, UAE achieves a 3.39% return, which is significantly higher than IBIT's -32.49% return.
UAE
- 1D
- -3.63%
- 1M
- 4.26%
- YTD
- 3.39%
- 6M
- 1.27%
- 1Y
- 9.56%
- 3Y*
- 13.97%
- 5Y*
- 10.19%
- 10Y*
- 5.88%
IBIT
- 1D
- -1.03%
- 1M
- -22.03%
- YTD
- -32.49%
- 6M
- -32.23%
- 1Y
- -45.30%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
UAE vs. IBIT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
UAE iShares MSCI UAE ETF | 3.39% | 21.35% | 12.82% |
IBIT iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF | -32.49% | -6.41% | 89.87% |
Correlation
The correlation between UAE and IBIT is 0.18, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.18 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 11, 2024 | 0.20 |
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Return for Risk
UAE vs. IBIT — Risk / Return Rank
UAE
IBIT
UAE vs. IBIT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI UAE ETF (UAE) and iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| UAE | IBIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.44 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.29 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.09 | 0.83 | +0.26 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.45 | -0.86 | +1.30 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.08 | -1.47 | +2.55 |
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Drawdowns
UAE vs. IBIT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum UAE drawdown since its inception was -60.49%, which is greater than IBIT's maximum drawdown of -52.98%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for UAE and IBIT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| UAE | IBIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -60.49% | -52.98% | -7.51% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -21.50% | -52.98% | +31.48% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -21.50% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -27.47% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -49.71% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -11.07% | -52.98% | +41.91% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -23.84% | -16.97% | -6.87% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 8.85% | 30.94% | -22.09% |
Volatility
UAE vs. IBIT - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares MSCI UAE ETF (UAE) is 9.98%, while iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) has a volatility of 13.43%. This indicates that UAE experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IBIT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| UAE | IBIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 9.98% | 13.43% | -3.45% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 20.75% | 34.60% | -13.85% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.86% | 44.41% | -21.55% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 19.16% | 50.21% | -31.05% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.63% | 50.21% | -30.58% |
UAE vs. IBIT - Expense Ratio Comparison
UAE has a 0.59% expense ratio, which is higher than IBIT's 0.25% expense ratio.
Dividends
UAE vs. IBIT - Dividend Comparison
UAE's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.46%, while IBIT has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IBIT iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
UAE iShares MSCI UAE ETF | 4.46% | 4.10% | 3.32% | 3.25% | 2.67% | 4.88% | 4.75% | 3.54% | 5.56% | 3.38% | 4.74% | 3.77% |
Frequently Asked Questions
UAE and IBIT have a correlation of 0.18, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IBIT has higher volatility (13.43%) compared to UAE (9.98%). In terms of maximum drawdown, UAE dropped -60.49% vs IBIT's -52.98%.
On 1-year performance, UAE leads with 9.56% vs -45.30% for IBIT. On fees, IBIT is cheaper at 0.25% per year. On volatility, UAE has been the lower-risk option at 9.98%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, UAE has performed better with a 9.56% return vs -45.30%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IBIT is cheaper with a 0.25% expense ratio, compared with 0.59% for UAE.
UAE has the higher dividend yield at 4.46%, compared with 0.00% for IBIT.
UAE is categorized as Emerging Markets Equities, while IBIT is Cryptocurrency. UAE tracks MSCI All UAE Capped Index, while IBIT tracks CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate - New York Variant. Their fees differ too: 0.59% for UAE and 0.25% for IBIT.
UAE currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.42 vs -1.02), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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