Abu Dhabi – September 15, 2026 -- Assets under management at Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) climbed 54% year-on-year in the first half of 2026, while active business licenses reached 13,974, cementing the emirate's position as the largest international financial centre by license count in the MEASA region.
Fund manager base expands 23% as capital inflows accelerate
The number of fund and asset managers based at ADGM rose to 190, up from 154 in H1 2025, with 11 new managers added in the second quarter alone -- the sharpest quarterly increase on record for the centre. Funds domiciled at ADGM grew to 276, a 32% increase from 209 a year earlier. Collectively, asset managers that set up at ADGM during the period oversee more than $2.1 trillion in assets globally.
Operational entities jump 34% as ADGM shifts from setup hub to full ecosystem
Total operational entities reached 3,986, up from 2,972 at the end of H1 2025. Financial services firms operating within the jurisdiction rose 27% to 392, from 308 a year prior. The Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) issued 50 in-principle approvals and 45 new financial services permissions during the six-month period. Companies establishing or expanding operations included Capital Group, Man Group, Bain Capital, Barings, Hillhouse Investment, Muzinich & Co., Rokos Capital Management and Blue Owl, among others.
Workforce grows by 4,688 professionals in six months
Combined headcount across Al Maryah and Al Reem islands hit 49,027 by mid-2026, a 34% year-on-year rise. ADGM Academy trained 1,607 Emirati nationals during the period and graduated a third cohort of 28 young UAE citizens, while its new Wealth Management Institute School of AI trained more than 544 UAE nationals in agentic AI applications.
AI-linked investments held at ADGM exceed $100 billion
ADGM has become a preferred jurisdiction for institutions investing in artificial intelligence infrastructure, with more than $100 billion in AI-focused capital now held by entities established at the centre. The concentration is anchored by MGX, the global investment platform focused on large-scale AI infrastructure deployment, which holds FSRA authorization. ADGM itself deployed 25 AI-driven business functions across licensing, supervision and client service in H1 2026, cutting manual workload by more than 5,000 person-hours annually and resolving roughly 25% of client requests instantly through digital channels. The centre plans to invest over AED 400 million through 2029 to build out data, governance and cybersecurity capabilities supporting AI-driven regulation.
Regulator tightens insurance, crypto and anti-money laundering rules
ADGM's Registration Authority rolled out a full suite of real estate services and a new broker classification framework, while issuing a discussion paper on proposed crypto mining guidance and beneficial ownership requirements. The FSRA aligned its insurance framework with International Association of Insurance Supervisors standards, introduced climate-related financial risk management requirements, finalized a virtual asset staking framework, and updated anti-money laundering rules to reflect federal legislative changes and Financial Action Task Force recommendations.
ADGM Chairman Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi said the growth across capital, institutions, businesses and talent reflects sustained international confidence in Abu Dhabi as a stable, globally connected financial hub, adding that the centre aims to rank among the world's top five international financial centres.
During the first half, ADGM expanded its presence in China, India and Singapore, including a strategic partnership with Shenzhen's Futian district, and engaged US institutions including Bain Capital, Vista Equity Partners and Man Group at the Milken Institute Global Conference 2026.