Abu Dhabi’s international financial centre ADGM delivered strong growth in the first half of 2026, with assets under management ( AUM ) rising 54% from the same period last year and its workforce reaching 49,027 professionals.
Meanwhile, the number of active licences also climbed to almost 14,000, underscoring sustained demand from companies seeking to set up within the jurisdiction.
The results reflect the continued expansion of capital, business activity and talent in the financial hub, as a growing number of global institutions structure, deploy and manage investment through Abu Dhabi, according to ADGM.
Says ADGM chairman Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi: “ADGM is championing Abu Dhabi’s long-term economic vision and cementing its growing influence as the centre of global capital flows. The scale of growth we are witnessing across capital, institutions, businesses and talent demonstrates sustained international confidence in Abu Dhabi as a stable, trusted and globally connected financial hub.
“Whether it is capital, opportunity or ambition, Abu Dhabi is increasingly becoming the place where all these factors converge seamlessly and meaningfully. Through ADGM, we are building on this momentum, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as the Capital of Capital and advancing our ambition to become among the world’s top five leading international financial centres.”
Asset management momentum
With a 54% year-on-year increase in AUM for the first half of 2026, ADGM has extended an unbroken run of growth since the start of 2022.
The number of fund and asset managers based in ADGM reached 190, up 23% from 154 in H1 2025, with 11 managers added in Q2 alone, its strongest quarterly increase. The number of funds managed from ADGM rose to 276, a 32% increase from 209 funds in the first six months of 2025.
Collectively, the asset managers that established operations in ADGM during H1 2026 oversee more than US$2.1 trillion in global assets under management, underscoring Abu Dhabi’s growing appeal as a destination for leading international investment firms.
ADGM’s financial services ecosystem continued to deepen during the period, reflecting sustained demand for its progressive regulatory environment, access to capital and direct application of English Common Law.
The number of financial services entities operating within the jurisdiction surged to 392 in H1 2026, up 27% from 308 at the end of H1 2025.
More financial services approvals
Meanwhile, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority ( FSRA ) issued a total of 50 in-principle approvals ( IPAs ) for financial services firms, while 45 new financial services permissions ( FSPs ) were granted.
Major financial firms establishing, launching or expanding their presence during the first half of the year included Capital Group, Man Group, Barings, Bain Capital, Hillhouse Investment, Muzinich & Co., Madison Realty Capital, Grow Investment Group, Rokos Capital Management, Polygreen Holdings, Hashed, Cantor, Bitexen MENA, Bitexen Custody, Copper ME, Blue Owl and Dhabi, among others.
The growing presence of leading global institutions further strengthens the financial hub’s role as a gateway connecting international capital with opportunities across Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates and the wider region, ADGM says.
