Abu dhabi: ADGM, Abu Dhabi's international financial centre (IFC), marks its 10th anniversary, celebrating a period of exceptional growth, regulatory excellence, and financial innovation. Since its inception in 2015, the centre has attracted more than 300 financial firms, who today manage a combined US$28.6 trillion globally, according to estimates from the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA), firmly positioning Abu Dhabi as a global "Capital of Capital."
According to Emirates News Agency, growth over the past three years has been especially rapid, with the number of financial firms rising from 131 at the end of 2021 to 308 as of H1 2025, a 135% growth in 42 months. This makes ADGM one of the world's fastest-growing financial hubs in recent years. Meanwhile, ADGM achieved the objectives of its 5-year Growth Strategy (2022-2027) in just three years.
Established with the ambition of transforming Abu Dhabi into a global hub for business and finance, ADGM has successfully navigated early challenges, including a global pandemic, to emerge as a resilient and future-ready IFC. In recent years, the centre has entered a period of accelerated growth, becoming the fastest growing financial centre in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) and the region's largest financial centre in terms of active licences.
The rapid growth of ADGM across its key indicators since its inception is a testament to its success and international standing. From 2015 through to the end of 2024, Assets Under Management (AUM) within ADGM have demonstrated a remarkable triple-digit Average Annual Growth Rate (AAGR) of 123%.
This performance has been supported by exponential growth in fund activity, where the number of funds and fund/asset managers, both metrics, achieved strong AAGRs of 62% over the same period. Meanwhile, active licences have grown at a robust 71% AAGR, and operational entities have expanded by 62%.
Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of ADGM, highlighted the centre's alignment with Abu Dhabi's strategic leadership vision, emphasizing that ADGM has matured into a global financial powerhouse attracting leading financial institutions. Al Zaabi underscored the ambition to position ADGM among the top five international financial centres globally in the coming decade.
Recent figures for H1 2025 demonstrate ADGM's sustained momentum across critical metrics, including a 42% year-on-year increase in AUM and a total of 154 fund and asset managers overseeing 209 funds. Meanwhile, the number of active licences in ADGM reached 11,128 - the highest in the region - while operational entities rose 42% to 2,972.
ADGM's robust regulatory framework, the first and only jurisdiction in the region to directly apply English common law, has become a benchmark of trust and transparency for international investors. Since its inception, the number of financial entities within ADGM had climbed at an AAGR of 55% by the end of 2024. ADGM's strong ties with Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth funds, which hold a combined USD 1.82 trillion, have also made it a compelling destination for global asset managers.
Over the past few years, ADGM has welcomed prestigious financial institutions such as BlackRock, State Street Global Advisors, and Carlyle. In 2025 alone, new additions include UBS, Monroe Capital, and Investindustrial, reinforcing ADGM's position as the financial centre of choice for top investment firms.
ADGM's growth is supported by world-class infrastructure, with jurisdiction spanning 14.3 million square metres across Al Maryah Island and Al Reem Island. The expansion to Al Reem Island increased ADGM's jurisdiction tenfold, meeting rising demand from international firms.
The workforce across ADGM's financial district has grown at an AAGR of 23% until the end of 2024. With the expansion to Al Reem Island, ADGM now covers both islands, with more than 36,000 individuals contributing to its ecosystem.
Beyond the numbers, ADGM is a leader in regulatory innovation, fostering a legal environment that instils global investor confidence. It has pioneered progressive regulations in various domains, including Virtual Assets, Sustainable Finance, and ESG. Initiatives like RegLab and Fintech Sandbox have strengthened market integrity.
In 2024, ADGM launched its 'The Path to Forward' brand, reflecting its role as an enabler of growth and innovation. Looking ahead, ADGM aims to be among the top 5 international financial centres and is expanding its global footprint with international roadshows and flagship events like Abu Dhabi Finance Week.