ABU DHABI — ADGM, Abu Dhabi’s international financial centre, is entering its second decade with renewed momentum after announcing the addition of 11 major global financial institutions overseeing more than US$9 trillion in assets under management.
This surge, up from US$635 billion last year and US$450 billion in 2023, represents one of the largest expansions recorded by any international financial centre globally this year, reinforcing ADGM’s status as the fastest-growing financial hub in the region and among the most dynamic worldwide for asset management.
The announcements, made ahead of and during the fourth and largest Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW), underscore Abu Dhabi’s rising influence as the “Capital of Capital” and cement ADFW’s role as a global platform showcasing the emirate’s position as a major financial hub supported by leading institutions and a robust regulatory framework at ADGM.
With assets represented at ADGM rising sharply, the centre is strengthening its position as the region’s fastest-growing international financial centre and a globally competitive jurisdiction. The pace of expansion reflects not incremental progress, but a structural shift in Abu Dhabi’s role within the global financial system.
During the week, global firms including Cantor Fitzgerald, BBVA, Arab Bank Switzerland Gulf Ltd, Plenary ME Infrastructure Partners Ltd, Eurasian Development Bank, ERM and DLA Piper announced plans to establish operations at ADGM, spanning asset management, banking, infrastructure investment, sustainability advisory and international legal services.
These moves follow a strong pipeline of fourth-quarter commitments from institutions such as UBS Group, KKR, Julius Baer, HarbourVest, Madison Realty Capital, Partners Group, DWS and Monroe Capital, highlighting the depth and durability of ADGM’s growth momentum.
Together, these commitments mark a robust start to ADGM’s next growth phase, positioning it among the world’s top five international financial centres.
Building on its established foundations, ADGM plans to continue setting international benchmarks across priority growth areas, extending beyond asset management into the full spectrum of financial services, including digital assets, sustainable and green finance, and advanced family office and private wealth services. This expansion is supported by a progressive, proportionate regulatory framework aligned with leading global standards.
Guided by Abu Dhabi’s long-term vision, this next phase positions ADGM not only to adapt to global financial change, but to redefine the role of an international financial centre as a gateway for global capital, a hub for innovation and a destination for next-generation financial talent.
Commenting on the centre’s continued momentum, Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of ADGM, said the commitments announced during ADFW reflect Abu Dhabi’s growing influence at the heart of global capital flows and the confidence international institutions place in the emirate’s clear and ambitious vision. He noted that the addition of firms managing more than US$9 trillion in assets signals deep trust in Abu Dhabi’s world-class financial ecosystem and its capacity to support increasingly complex financial activity.
A major milestone during the fourth edition of ADFW was the announcement that Binance had become the first crypto exchange to receive a formal global licence from ADGM’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority, allowing it to operate under a comprehensive regulatory framework from Abu Dhabi. This marked a global first in digital asset regulation and reinforced ADGM’s ambition to build the world’s most progressive and compliant digital asset ecosystem.
Binance Co-CEO Richard Teng said the licence reflects the firm’s compliance-first approach and commitment to transparency, security and user protection, adding that its partnership with ADGM underscores confidence in the long-term growth of the digital asset industry.
Further strengthening the fintech and digital asset ecosystem, firms such as iCapital announced the opening of their first Middle East office in Abu Dhabi, while Hashed Global Management Ltd, Circle Internet MEA Ltd, Galaxy Digital and Animoca Asset Management are expanding their presence and operations from ADGM.
The ecosystem is also becoming more sophisticated as high-value activities take root. IHC-owned RIQ revealed plans to collaborate with Swiss Re to develop AI-driven risk, data and reinsurance solutions from ADGM, supporting Abu Dhabi’s ambition to become a global centre for next-generation reinsurance and financial innovation.
Meanwhile, JPMorgan said it is expanding its payments and treasury services operations from ADGM, enabling it to offer enhanced liquidity management and multi-currency payment solutions to clients across the region, reflecting the growing use of Abu Dhabi as a base for advanced transaction banking.
Alongside global institutions, local platforms are strengthening Abu Dhabi’s capital market infrastructure. A total of 82 memorandums of understanding were signed during ADFW between regional firms such as Finstreet and the ADI DLT Foundation and global players including BlackRock and Franklin Templeton. Notably, the Majarra–Halo partnership aims to develop next-generation structured product capabilities from within ADGM.
Collectively, these developments highlight how Abu Dhabi is deliberately shaping its capital ecosystem by aligning regulation, technology and market infrastructure to drive the next phase of financial innovation.
All announcements were made during the fourth edition of ADFW, held under the theme “Engineering the Capital Network,” which brought together global leaders and senior executives from across financial services and the broader capital ecosystem.
Together, they underscore Abu Dhabi’s growing stature as a global financial powerhouse and ADGM’s central role in building a more connected, competitive and diversified “Capital of Capital” for the decade ahead.
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