Fourteen major global financial institutions to establish presence in Abu Dhabi Global Market
Institutions managing over US$5 trillion in assets have announced plans to establish operations in ADGM, reflecting confidence in Abu Dhabi's thriving economic landscape and world-class regulatory framework.
The Abu Dhabi Global Market has emerged as an increasingly compelling destination for the world’s most prominent financial institutions, with fourteen major entities collectively overseeing more than US$5 trillion in assets announcing their intention to establish a presence within ADGM during the first half of 2026.
Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of ADGM, revealed this significant development during the third Abu Dhabi Investment Forum held in London, underscoring the considerable momentum Abu Dhabi continues to generate within global financial circles. The announcement reflects the emirate’s sustained trajectory of robust economic expansion, with Abu Dhabi’s economy having achieved growth of 7 per cent throughout 2025, whilst the non-oil sector demonstrated particularly impressive performance with expansion of 8 per cent, contributing more than half of the emirate’s total GDP.
The expansion of these institutions into ADGM represents a sophisticated recognition of Abu Dhabi’s multifaceted advantages as a financial and investment hub. The emirate is cultivating distinctive competencies across transformative sectors including artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, energy and life sciences. Businesses operating within Abu Dhabi are simultaneously broadening their international reach, establishing consequential partnerships and penetrating promising new markets that benefit from the region’s geographic and economic positioning.
ADGM’s appeal to these global financial giants rests substantially upon its distinctive regulatory environment and institutional framework. The market operates under the direct application of English Common Law, a legal system supported by independent courts and a comprehensive regulatory infrastructure that rigorously upholds the principles of transparency, fairness and the robust enforceability of commercial rights. This confluence of sophisticated governance and legal certainty provides international financial institutions with the assurance and operational clarity they require.
Abu Dhabi’s competitive advantages extend considerably beyond its regulatory framework. The emirate possesses competitive long-term capital and world-class infrastructure, coupled with advantageous access to some of the planet’s most rapidly expanding markets. These elements combine to create a compelling proposition for institutions seeking to position themselves strategically within emerging growth trajectories.
Mr Al Zaabi emphasised that Abu Dhabi’s leadership has consistently adopted a characteristically farsighted approach to economic development, constructing the foundations of an economy designed to compete effectively today whilst simultaneously creating enduring prosperity for generations to come. The measure of progress, he noted, extends beyond the volume of capital drawn to the emirate, instead focusing upon the substantial opportunities that such capital creates for the broader community and economy.
Source: WAM
On Simply Luxury: Abu Dhabi Global Market · ADGM