Abu Dhabi investment firm Waha Capital has posted a 43 per cent jump in its annual profit for 2013 which hit Dh306.4 million ($83.42 million) from Dh214.4 million the year before following higher returns on its portfolio.

"The growth in net profit was driven by increased returns from Waha Capital's key direct investments, including New York-listed aircraft leasing company AerCap Holdings and UAE consumer finance company Dunia Finance, as well as the strong performance of the company's capital markets division," it said in a statement.

The firm's total assets grew to 5.2 billion dirhams from 4.4 billion dirhams a year earlier.

Waha is eyeing more investments, chief executive Salem Rashid Al Noaimi said in the statement. "Our strategy is to acquire majority stakes in companies where value can be added through our principal investments division," he said.

Apart from aircraft leasing and consumer finance, Waha Capital also has investments in sectors such as marine shipping, healthcare and property.-Reuters