Abu Dhabi Royal-Backed MGX Secures 15% Stake in TikTok U.S. in Major Transaction

Abu Dhabi Royal-Backed MGX Secures 15% Stake in TikTok U.S. as American Control Grows – 29/9/2025

MGX, a fund backed by Abu Dhabi’s royal family, is acquiring a 15% stake in TikTok’s U.S. business as part of a restructuring aimed at increasing American ownership of the popular video app, The Washington Post reported Friday.

The deal, led by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, pairs MGX with Oracle, co-founded by Larry Ellison, with the two controlling roughly 45% of TikTok’s U.S. operations. Including other U.S. investors, American companies are expected to hold more than 65% of the business.

TikTok’s Chinese parent, ByteDance, will remain a significant shareholder with a 19.9% stake, a structure intended to address regulatory concerns in Washington, where former President Trump has repeatedly pushed for tighter scrutiny of the app’s ownership and data practices.

MGX’s involvement adds an additional layer of intrigue. Earlier this year, the fund invested $2 billion in USD1, a stablecoin launched by Donald Trump’s World Liberty Financial. USD1, backed by U.S. Treasuries, cash, and equivalents, offers an alternative financial access outside traditional banking. MGX has already deployed the stablecoin in investments such as Binance, demonstrating its readiness to use USD1 in major deals.

The TikTok stake gives MGX a high-profile presence in the U.S. social media market, where the platform continues to play a key role in shaping digital culture, advertising, and consumer engagement.