ADGM Draws $4.4 Trillion Asset Management Firms to Abu Dhabi

ADGM said its participation at the 2026 Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles helped reinforce Abu Dhabi’s growing position as an international capital hub, as eight global financial institutions managing a combined $4.4 trillion in assets announced plans to establish operations in the financial center over recent weeks.

The delegation was led by Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, chairman of ADGM, who used the conference to position Abu Dhabi as what officials increasingly describe as the “Capital of Capital,” a phrase that reflects the emirate’s ambition to become a larger intermediary between global investors, sovereign wealth funds, and emerging markets.

Expanding Global Investor Ties

The delegation held more than 50 meetings with policymakers, institutional investors, and major asset managers during the conference, including discussions with firms such as Blackstone, Bain Capital, Coinbase, Man Group, and Guggenheim Partners.

The announcement comes amid accelerating competition among Gulf financial centers to attract international asset managers and alternative investment firms. Abu Dhabi, in particular, has spent the last several years expanding its regulatory ecosystem and positioning itself as a gateway connecting Western capital with markets across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

ADGM said firms managing nearly $4.4 trillion in assets have either opened offices, secured regulatory approvals, or announced plans to establish operations in Abu Dhabi since late March. These include firms such as Capital Group, which manages approximately $3.3 trillion in assets, alongside Barings, Rokos Capital Management, Hillhouse Investment, and Muzinich & Co.

ADGM Accelerates Global Expansion

His Excellency Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, chairman of ADGM, said: “Global capital today is increasingly gravitating toward platforms that offer predictability, institutional strength, and global connectivity. As ADGM advances towards its ambition to become one of the top five financial centres of the world, we continue to strengthen a globally trusted ecosystem built on regulatory clarity, forward-looking governance, and direct access to regional and international opportunities. As the fastest-growing IFC in the region, ADGM’s momentum in attracting leading global asset managers has been rapid and exceptional. This demand is reflected in firms managing close to USD 4.4 trillion globally in assets, choosing ADGM to expand."

During a fireside discussion with Alan Schwartz titled “Driving Global Financial Innovation,” Al Zaabi also pointed to the UAE’s economic diversification strategy as a key factor supporting investor confidence. He described the country’s economic resilience as the result of “deliberate strategy” rather than reactive policymaking.

ADGM additionally disclosed that it issued 284 new licenses in March 2026, up from 270 during the same month a year earlier, representing a 5.2% increase.

Abu Dhabi Targets Bigger Role in Global Finance

The broader significance of the announcement extends beyond headline asset figures. While firms often establish relatively small regional offices initially, these moves are increasingly viewed as indicators of long-term institutional confidence in Abu Dhabi’s regulatory framework and geopolitical positioning.

ADGM operates under an English common law framework and has steadily expanded its international profile since launching in 2015. The financial center has also increased its focus on digital assets, fintech, private credit, and alternative investments as Gulf jurisdictions compete for a larger role in global finance.

Gulf Financial Centers Gain Momentum

Global investment firms are continuing to diversify geographically as higher interest rates, geopolitical fragmentation, and shifting trade relationships reshape capital flows. Gulf states, supported by sovereign wealth capital and relatively strong fiscal positions, have increasingly benefited from that reallocation trend.

Abu Dhabi has emerged as one of the region’s most aggressive players in that race, competing alongside financial hubs such as Dubai, Riyadh, and Doha to attract multinational financial firms seeking regional expansion.

Regional competition is expected to intensify further as Gulf financial centers continue introducing regulatory reforms, tax incentives, and specialized frameworks aimed at attracting global asset managers, hedge funds, and fintech firms.