• Home
• News

Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) AUM Surges 54% in H1 2026, Reinforcing Status as the "Capital of Capital"

The Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the international financial center of the UAE’s capital, recorded robust growth during the first half of 2026. Assets Under Management (AUM) surged by 54% compared to the previous year, while the workforce within the jurisdiction expanded to 49,027 professionals. Concurrently, the number of active licenses climbed to nearly 14,000, underscoring sustained demand from global enterprises seeking to establish operations within ADGM.

These metrics reflect a continued influx of capital, economic activity, and top-tier talent into ADGM, as an increasing number of international institutions select Abu Dhabi as their base for structuring investments and deploying capital. Collectively, the results cement Abu Dhabi's expanding footprint as a premier global financial hub in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region, widely recognized as the "Capital of Capital."

Commenting on the performance, H.E. Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of ADGM, stated that the financial center continues to drive Abu Dhabi’s long-term economic vision. He noted that the accelerating growth in capital, institutions, and talent reflects deep-rooted international confidence in Abu Dhabi as a stable, reliable, and globally interconnected financial hub. Al Zaabi emphasized that ADGM is building on this momentum to propel its ambition of ranking among the top five international financial centers globally.

Strong Momentum in the Asset Management Sector

ADGM’s asset management sector maintained its powerful trajectory through H1 2026, continuing a streak of continuous growth that began in early 2022.

The number of asset and fund managers operating within ADGM reached 190, representing a 23% increase compared to 154 managers in H1 2025. Notably, 11 new managers were onboarded in the second quarter alone, marking ADGM’s largest quarterly increase to date.

Additionally, the number of funds managed out of ADGM rose to 276, a 32% year-on-year jump from 209 funds. In total, asset management firms established within ADGM during the first half of 2026 manage over $2.1 trillion in global assets, highlighting Abu Dhabi's escalating appeal to leading international investment firms.

Active Licenses Near the 14,000 Mark

ADGM recorded formidable operational activity during the first half of the year, with total active licenses reaching 13,974. This figure firmly establishes ADGM as the largest international financial center in the MEASA region by this key metric, supported by the issuance of 1,814 new licenses during the period.

The number of operational companies also rose significantly to 3,986, a 34% increase from 2,972 companies at the end of H1 2025. This transition reflects ADGM’s ongoing evolution from a prime business setup destination into a mature, active, and fully integrated financial ecosystem. These licenses span a comprehensive spectrum of activities, ranging from operational businesses and financial institutions to holding companies and investment structures designed for global capital allocation.