ADGM celebrates decade of operations with 36% surge in assets under management
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – March 30, 2026 — Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) announced a 36% increase in Assets Under Management (AUM) for 2025, marking its 10th year of operations as the Middle East and North Africa’s largest international financial centre. Active licences surged 30% to 12,671, while the workforce expanded 51% to 44,339 individuals across the Al Reem and Al Maryah Islands hub.
Overview
ADGM issued 3,769 new licences in 2025, with 171 asset and fund managers overseeing 244 funds. The centre onboarded 347 financial institutions, including 80 newly licensed entities. The Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) granted 120 In-Principle Approvals—a 32% increase—and issued 94 Financial Services Permissions. Notable licensees include Binance (receiving its first global crypto licence), KKR, UBS, and Galaxy Digital.
The milestone achievements reflect ADGM’s strategic positioning as a gateway for global capital and innovation in the region.
“2025 marked a defining chapter in ADGM’s milestones. We achieved another year of significant growth in our AUMs, reflecting both the confidence of our partners and the strength of our investment strategies. Equally important was our success in attracting leading global players to ADGM, reinforcing our position as a gateway for world-class talent, capital, and innovation.”
— His Excellency Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman at ADGM
The statement underscores ADGM’s dual achievement in capital accumulation and ecosystem development, positioning Abu Dhabi as a competitive alternative to established financial hubs.
Industry context
Ranked #1 in MENA and #12 globally by NYU Stern’s Financial Centres Competitiveness Index, ADGM operates under English common law with progressive regulatory frameworks. The centre has signed 6 international memoranda of understanding and implemented initiatives including the Funds Reporting Regime. Abu Dhabi Finance Week 2025 attracted 35,000 attendees representing $60 trillion in AUM, demonstrating the hub’s convening power.
ADGM’s expansion intensifies competition with Dubai International Financial Centre and Riyadh’s emerging financial district. A AED 60 billion joint venture between Mubadala and Aldar supports real estate development, while ADGM Academy has trained 9,500 professionals and facilitated 6,000 job placements, strengthening regional talent pipelines aligned with UAE economic diversification goals.
What’s next
ADGM targets top-5 global financial centre status through continued regulatory evolution, strategic partnerships, and talent attraction initiatives designed to establish Abu Dhabi as the “Capital of Capital.”
