Assets under management climb 36% as licenses surpass 12,000 and the workforce expands significantly.
Abu Dhabi: The financial free zone, Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) on Al Maryah Island, celebrates 10 years of operations, reporting robust growth in assets, licenses, and workforce, underscoring its rising stature as an international financial centre.
A statement on Monday revealed that assets under management (AUM) within ADGM are projected to rise 36 per cent in 2025, highlighting sustained confidence in Abu Dhabi as a global hub for asset and wealth management.
By year-end, 171 asset and fund managers were operating within ADGM, collectively overseeing 244 funds.
Moreover, ADGM issued 3,769 new licenses in 2025, bringing the total active licenses to 12,671. Overall, active licenses grew 30 per cent during the year, underscoring ADGM’s scale and influence as a leading financial centre.
Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of ADGM, said: “2025 marked a defining chapter in ADGM’s journey. We achieved another year of significant growth in our AUMs, reflecting the confidence of our partners and the strength of our investment strategies.”
Al Zaabi said, “As we continue to align with Abu Dhabi’s strategic vision, we remain committed to driving sustainable growth and enhancing our competitive edge, aiming to become one of the world’s top five international financial centres.”
Workforce Growth
The ADGM workforce expanded 51 per cent in 2025, reaching 44,339 employees, up from 29,338 in 2024.
According to ADGM, this increase reflects the rising business activity across Al Reem and Al Maryah Islands.
Moreover, a diverse array of global firms established operations in ADGM in 2025, covering fintech, banking, digital assets, legal services, and sustainability sectors.
Notable entrants included Circle, Carta, Bitcoin Suisse, Skadden, DLA Piper, BBVA, Arab Bank (Switzerland) Gulf, Galaxy Digital, UBS Group, and Julius Baer, among others.
Crypto Milestone
In December 2025, Binance became the first cryptocurrency exchange to obtain a formal global license from ADGM’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA).
“The license enables Binance to operate in Abu Dhabi under ADGM’s regulatory framework.
Institution Base
By the end of 2025, ADGM hosted 347 financial institutions, issuing 80 new licenses to financial entities during the year.
The FSRA also granted 120 In-Principle Approvals—a nearly 32% year-on-year increase—alongside 94 new Financial Services Permissions.
Abu Dhabi was ranked the top financial centre in the MENA region and 12th globally in the Financial Centre Competitiveness Index, published by NYU Stern School of Business.
The emirate also hosted the annual International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds (IFSWF) meeting in November 2025, gathering major sovereign wealth funds.
ADGM organized Abu Dhabi Finance Week 2025, featuring 68 events and 394 sessions, with over 800 speakers and more than 35,000 attendees.
Throughout the year, ADGM conducted roadshows in China, Japan, London, New York, Singapore, and India, including signing memorandums of understanding and hosting events to promote investment opportunities.
Regulatory Moves
ADGM reinforced its regulatory framework in 2025, aligning with international standards such as BCBS and IOSCO principles.
New initiatives included a Funds Reporting Regime, a Virtual Assets notification regime, and enhanced guidance for digital asset activities.
The FSRA also signed six memorandums of understanding with international regulators to boost cross-border cooperation.
Real Estate Expansion
In 2025, ADGM launched full operations of its expanded real estate jurisdiction following the integration of Al Reem Island.
Over 70 services for real property transactions were introduced, supported by a unified digital platform that enables remote processing.
A joint venture between Mubadala and Aldar, valued at over Dh60 billion, was announced to further develop Al Maryah Island. Through ADGM Academy, 9,500 individuals participated in training programs during 2025.
The academy also facilitated 6,000 job opportunities and supported 3,000 graduates through employability programs.
