UAE vs. KSA
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares MSCI UAE ETF (UAE) and iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF (KSA).
UAE and KSA are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. UAE is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI All UAE Capped Index. It was launched on Apr 29, 2014. KSA is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI Saudi Arabia Investable Market Index (IMI) 25/50 Index. It was launched on Sep 16, 2015. Both UAE and KSA are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: UAE or KSA.
Key characteristics
| UAE | KSA | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 5.68% | 0.78% |
| 1Y Return | 8.64% | 10.19% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 2.30% | 1.23% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 5.90% | 9.85% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 0.64 | 0.84 |
| Sortino Ratio | 0.96 | 1.23 |
| Omega Ratio | 1.12 | 1.16 |
| Calmar Ratio | 0.36 | 0.50 |
| Martin Ratio | 2.03 | 2.21 |
| Ulcer Index | 4.52% | 5.05% |
| Daily Std Dev | 14.41% | 13.36% |
| Max Drawdown | -60.44% | -40.56% |
| Current Drawdown | -14.09% | -12.71% |
Correlation
The correlation between UAE and KSA is 0.33, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.
Performance
UAE vs. KSA - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, UAE achieves a 5.68% return, which is significantly higher than KSA's 0.78% return. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
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UAE vs. KSA - Expense Ratio Comparison
UAE has a 0.59% expense ratio, which is lower than KSA's 0.74% expense ratio.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
UAE vs. KSA - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI UAE ETF (UAE) and iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF (KSA). 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.
Dividends
UAE vs. KSA - Dividend Comparison
UAE's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.12%, more than KSA's 2.75% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UAE iShares MSCI UAE ETF | 4.12% | 3.25% | 2.67% | 4.88% | 4.75% | 3.54% | 5.56% | 3.38% | 4.74% | 3.77% | 2.58% |
KSA iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF | 2.75% | 2.44% | 1.93% | 1.58% | 1.76% | 2.15% | 2.51% | 2.30% | 3.05% | 0.04% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
UAE vs. KSA - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum UAE drawdown since its inception was -60.44%, which is greater than KSA's maximum drawdown of -40.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for UAE and KSA. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
UAE vs. KSA - Volatility Comparison
iShares MSCI UAE ETF (UAE) has a higher volatility of 4.35% compared to iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF (KSA) at 2.96%. This indicates that UAE's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than KSA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.