Abu dhabi: ADGM Academy (ADGMA), the knowledge arm of ADGM, in partnership with PGIM, the global investment management business of Prudential Financial, Inc., with support from the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and leading Abu Dhabi-based academic institutions, have officially inaugurated the RealAssetX Abu Dhabi Innovation Centre during a landmark event hosted at ADGM. The opening of the Centre positions Abu Dhabi as the region's first dedicated hub for AI and sustainable innovation in the real assets sector.
According to Emirates News Agency, the official launch event was the first in-person introduction to RealAssetX Abu Dhabi's network of partners and physical office, located at the ADGM Academy. Guests from across industry, academia, and government gathered in ADGM, the international financial centre, for keynote speeches, panel discussions, and the unveiling of the Centre. A visit to the new Centre was also organised as part of the event for participants to gain first-hand insights into its vision, research initiatives, and collaborative workspaces.
Mansoor Jaffar, CEO of ADGM Academy and Research Centre, emphasized the ambition to place Abu Dhabi at the forefront of global innovation in real assets and infrastructure. He highlighted that by combining AI, sustainability, and deep technology, the Centre aims to nurture talent, attract global collaboration, and deliver pioneering solutions that strengthen the knowledge economy and advance the UAE's strategic goals.
Badr Salim Al Olama, Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, pointed out that the RealAssetX Centre serves as a dynamic bridge between research, technology, and investment. The Centre aims to unlock new opportunities and reinforce Abu Dhabi's ambition to build an innovation-led economy through transformative technologies like AI, digital twins, and innovative financing models.
Mohammed Abdulmalek, Head of Middle East at PGIM, described the opening as a pivotal moment in redefining the future of real assets through technology and collaboration. He stated that the Centre is a catalyst for pioneering research and new technologies, where innovative ideas can be transformed into practical solutions to address the evolving needs of the real asset industry.
RealAssetX, launched by PGIM in 2023, leverages proprietary data and research to accelerate innovation across real estate, infrastructure, and energy. With an existing global network and established hubs in London, Singapore, and the U.S., the RealAssetX Abu Dhabi Innovation Centre now joins this global network as the Middle East headquarters, bridging local talent with international expertise.
The Centre will focus on three transformative areas: Climate Technologies for driving decarbonisation and environmental resilience, AI-driven Decision-Making for enhancing asset management and investment strategies, and Breakthrough Applications for exploring blockchain for real estate, smart infrastructure, and advanced materials.
Through structured innovation funnels, including hackathons, accelerators, and venture-building initiatives, the Centre will support startups and turn academic research into market-ready solutions. It will also partner with UAE universities to foster research collaboration and build talent pipelines.
The inaugural research project, announced during the event, will explore the use of generative AI in predictive asset management, in collaboration with academic partners from Abu Dhabi.
The opening of the RealAssetX Abu Dhabi Innovation Centre reinforces ADGM's commitment to supporting the UAE's Net Zero 2050 agenda, advancing economic diversification, and building a knowledge-based economy through a hub which has innovation at its core. By bridging regulators, investors, academia, and industry, the Centre will transform research into globally relevant solutions, positioning Abu Dhabi at the forefront of innovation in real assets and infrastructure.