Abu Dhabi Global Market Posts 57% Jump in Assets Under Management
May 18, 2026
Assets under management at Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) grew 57% in the first quarter of 2026, one of several figures the international financial centre pointed to as evidence it is consolidating its position as the region’s leading hub for finance.
Active licences at ADGM crossed 13,353 by the end of Q1, with 961 issued in the quarter alone. The workforce based within the centre expanded 44% to 47,047 people, while the number of licensed financial services entities rose 30% year-on-year to 365.
Asset management specifically stood out: asset and fund managers grew 24% to 179 entities, and the number of managed funds jumped 43% to 263. New asset managers that set up during the quarter collectively represent more than $4.4 trillion in global AUM — a figure that speaks to the scale of institutions now choosing Abu Dhabi as a base.
Operational entities across ADGM reached 3,741, up nearly 35%, alongside 22 In-Principle Approvals and 29 new Financial Services Permissions issued during the period.
What’s notable for anyone tracking the UAE’s two competing financial centres is that this growth is happening in parallel with DIFC’s own record expansion in Dubai — a sign that both emirates are pulling in fresh global capital rather than simply competing for the same pool.
Source of information: ADGM
