The Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), which is celebrating its 10th anniversary marked by a decade of remarkable growth, regulatory excellence, and financial innovation, has attracted over 300 financial institutions managing a total of $28.6 trillion in global assets, as estimated by the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA). This solidifies Abu Dhabi’s position as a global capital hub.
The institutions include hedge funds, banks, major asset managers, private equity firms, venture capital, and credit funds.
Over the past three years, the ADGM has seen impressive growth, with the number of financial institutions increasing from 131 at the end of 2021 to 308 in the first half of 2025, reflecting a growth rate of 135% over 42 months. This rapid expansion has made ADGM one of the fastest-growing financial centers globally in recent years.
Furthermore, the ADGM has successfully achieved the objectives of its five-year growth strategy (2022-2027) in just three years.
The notable growth in performance indicators since the establishment of ADGM illustrates a solid success story that underpins the center’s leading international financial position. Between 2015 and the end of 2024, assets under management in ADGM recorded an exceptional annual growth rate of 123%, driven by a significant increase in fund activities, with both the number of funds and asset managers growing at an annual rate of 62% during the same period. Additionally, the number of active licenses surged at a compound annual growth rate of 71%, and the expansion of companies operating within its framework increased by 62%.
His Excellency Ahmed Jassim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the ADGM, stated, “Guided by the vision and directives of our wise leadership, ADGM has achieved unprecedented growth in a short span since its inception, becoming a leading global financial powerhouse that attracts top financial institutions from around the world. In the next decade, we aspire to position ADGM as one of the top five international financial centers globally, leveraging our significant achievements and driving forward toward a new era of sustainable growth and global leadership in the next ten years.”
The performance indicators and results achieved by ADGM in the first half of 2025 further confirm the strong momentum in key metrics, with assets under management increasing by 42% compared to the same period in 2024. The total number of fund and asset managers reached 154, managing a total of 209 funds, while the number of active licenses soared to 11,128, the highest in the region. The number of companies operating within ADGM rose by 42%, totaling 2,972 firms.
In recent years, several prestigious global financial institutions have joined the ADGM ecosystem, including BlackRock, State Street Global Advisors, PGIM, Novian, Carlyle, Apollo, among others.
In 2025 alone, notable firms such as UBS, Davidson Kempner, Monroe Capital, Adam Street, HarbourVest, Carta, Kimmeridge, Invest Industrial, Patrizia, Pollen Capital, Sequoia, Arcapita, Harrison Street, Partners Capital, and Oryx Global Partners have joined the growing ADGM ecosystem, enhancing its status as a financial center for major investment firms worldwide.
ADGM has evolved into one of the largest financial districts globally, covering an area of 14.3 million square meters that includes the islands of Al Maryah and Al Reem.