The growth in assets under management was accompanied by an expansion in the number of asset and fund managers to 171 overseeing a total of 244 funds, the Emirates News Agency reported. Active licences climbed 30 percent to 12,671 after the issuance of 3,769 new licences during the period. The workforce at the financial centre expanded by 51 percent to reach 44,339 employees.
ADGM data places the longer-term expansion in assets under management at a 123 percent average annual growth rate between 2015 and the end of 2024. Both the number of funds and the number of fund or asset managers achieved 62 percent average annual growth rates over the same decade. Active licences grew at a 71 percent average annual growth rate while the count of operational entities rose by 62 percent.
Recent acceleration has seen the number of financial firms increase from 131 at the end of 2021 to 308 as of the first half of 2025, a 135 percent rise across 42 months. This pace has positioned ADGM among the fastest-growing financial hubs in the MEASA region, according to authority figures. The centre has attracted a range of international businesses drawn to its regulatory environment.
The Emirates News Agency noted that ADGM operates as an international financial free zone in Abu Dhabi with its own legal system based on English common law. Its regulatory authority oversees sectors that include banking, capital markets, wealth management, fintech and insurance. Independent courts and registration systems form core elements of the framework designed to support global participants.
From its establishment phase, ADGM has focused on building a presence that supports Abu Dhabi’s broader economic goals. The authority has pursued partnerships to deepen connectivity with international markets and has emphasised innovation in sustainable finance along with digital asset initiatives. Industry data from the period reflects steady uptake across its licensed activities.
ADGM’s announcement on its website highlighted the cumulative impact of these developments across the 10-year span. The centre reported strong fund activity growth that paralleled the rise in assets under management. Such metrics illustrate the scale of institutional interest recorded since operations commenced.
