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 5.92% vs -39.60% for IBIT. At a 0.19 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 -1.41% return, which is significantly higher than IBIT's -27.45% return.
UAE
- 1D
- 1.45%
- 1M
- -1.62%
- YTD
- -1.41%
- 6M
- -0.08%
- 1Y
- 5.92%
- 3Y*
- 12.95%
- 5Y*
- 9.14%
- 10Y*
- 5.49%
IBIT
- 1D
- -2.65%
- 1M
- -22.17%
- YTD
- -27.45%
- 6M
- -31.40%
- 1Y
- -39.60%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
UAE vs. IBIT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
UAE iShares MSCI UAE ETF | -1.41% | 21.35% | 12.45% |
IBIT iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF | -27.45% | -6.41% | 99.21% |
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 12, 2024 | 0.19 |
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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.
| UAE | IBIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.18 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.80 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.07 | 0.86 | +0.21 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.28 | -0.80 | +1.08 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 0.70 | -1.39 | +2.09 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| UAE | IBIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.27 | -0.91 | +1.18 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.49 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.28 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.07 | 0.27 | -0.20 |
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 -49.47%. 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% | -49.47% | -11.02% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -21.50% | -49.47% | +27.97% |
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 | -15.20% | -49.47% | +34.27% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -23.91% | -16.07% | -7.84% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 8.42% | 28.61% | -20.19% |
Volatility
UAE vs. IBIT - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares MSCI UAE ETF (UAE) is 6.59%, while iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) has a volatility of 9.14%. 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 | 6.59% | 9.14% | -2.55% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 19.10% | 33.89% | -14.79% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.03% | 43.76% | -21.73% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.78% | 50.18% | -31.40% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.54% | 50.18% | -30.64% |
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 4.16%, 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 | 4.16% | 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 (9.14%) compared to UAE (6.59%). In terms of maximum drawdown, UAE dropped -60.49% vs IBIT's -49.47%.
On 1-year performance, UAE leads with 5.92% vs -39.60% for IBIT. On fees, IBIT is cheaper at 0.25% per year. On volatility, UAE has been the lower-risk option at 6.59%. 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 5.92% return vs -39.60%. 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 4.16%, 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 (0.27 vs -0.91), 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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