ADGM posts 48% AUM surge and strong Q3 growth as entities pass 11,900 licences

Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the international financial centre of Abu Dhabi, reported strong Q3 2025 results, reinforcing its position as the leading financial hub in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA).

The latest figures reflect sustained momentum across asset management, licensing, real estate and employment activity as the centre marks its 10th anniversary.

The asset management sector continued to be a major driver of expansion, with Assets Under Management (AUM) in ADGM rising by 48 per cent year-on-year in Q3 2025 compared with Q3 2024.

The centre now hosts 161 asset and fund managers, while the number of funds managed within its jurisdiction reached 220, reaffirming ADGM’s standing as a preferred destination for wealth management.

Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of ADGM, said: “As we advance our vision for a diversified and resilient financial ecosystem, our ongoing progress and achievements reflect the confidence that global institutions place in ADGM as a catalyst for growth and transformation.

“Our financial centre is one of the world’s youngest, but our exponential growth has achieved global recognition. Following another strong quarter, our commitment to deliver innovation, regulatory excellence, and global connectivity is stronger than ever.”

ADGM growth

Licensing activity also accelerated. At the end of Q3, the number of active licences across ADGM reached 11,920, with 2,801 licences issued in 2025 alone.

Operational entities surpassed 3,000 to reach 3,227, marking a 43 per cent year-on-year increase. Of these, 328 entities were in the financial services sector.

ADGM recorded significant year-on-year growth in real estate-related activity over the same period. The value of real estate transactions increased by 104 per cent, while sales activity—including off-plan and ready units—rose by 78 per cent.

Project registrations doubled, reflecting strengthening investor confidence and the successful integration of Al Reem Island into ADGM’s jurisdiction.

Employment levels across the financial centre continued to rise, with the workforce across Al Maryah and Al Reem Islands reaching 39,870 during the period.

The strong pipeline of entities choosing ADGM for regional expansion underscores the centre’s reputation as a nexus for global capital flows and a business-friendly environment supported by robust regulatory frameworks.

The Q3 results build on a year of strategic advances across ADGM’s ecosystem—from pioneering regulations in sustainable finance and digital assets to attracting global financial institutions and innovators—as the centre marks a decade of operation.