ADGM Kicks Off 2025 with Strong First Quarter Performance
In Q1 2025, ADGM achieved significant growth across key metrics, supported by ongoing global investor confidence, regulatory enhancements, and the successful implementation of major initiatives within its expanded jurisdiction on Al Reem Island. Meanwhile, ADGM's focus and strategic initiatives to strengthen ADGM's standing as a leading international financial centre reaffirmed Abu Dhabi's position as a global financial powerhouse and a destination of choice for regional and global entities.
Commenting on ADGM's growth momentum, His Excellency Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of ADGM, said, 'ADGM's Q1 2025 performance marks the beginning of another landmark year. This is not just a reflection of ADGM's capabilities to deliver sustained growth, but also the trust it has gained among global and regional institutions, boosting Abu Dhabi's status as a global financial and innovation hub. As the world's safest and most dynamic jurisdiction for asset and wealth management, ADGM continues to expand and diversify with purpose, welcoming leading firms, deepening international partnerships, and driving digital and sustainable transformation across sectors. ADGM remains committed to contributing towards capital formation and innovation in alignment with the UAE's long-term economic vision.'
Diverse Growth Within The 'Capital of Capital'
The asset management sector was a key indicator of ADGM's growth last year. During Q1 2025, AUMs grew 33% compared to Q1 2024. At the end of Q1 2025, 119 asset and fund managers managed a total of 184 funds out of ADGM.
As the sole jurisdiction in the region to adopt the direct application of English common law, ADGM's transparency, stability, legal certainty and familiarity with its established regulatory framework have been a key driver to the growing number of global and regional entities setting up. As of Q1 2025, the total number of operational entities in ADGM increased 43% to 2,781, from the same period a year earlier, while the number of financial services entities increased to 367, indicating a 26% growth from Q1 2024.
The number of new licences grew in Q1 2025, representing an increase of 67% from Q1 2024. Notable firms establishing a presence during this period include Skadden, Investindustrial, NewVest, Arcapita, Polen Capital, Seviora, Olive Gaea, TON, and Aquila Group. These firms represent a range of sectors and position ADGM as the preferred premier international hub for asset management, sustainable finance, legal services, and digital innovation.
Strategic Human Capital Growth
One of ADGM's strategic focuses under the 'Capital of Capital' concept has been human capital. Efforts towards this have resulted in the workforce on Al Maryah Island surging to over 29,000 individuals, a 17% growth compared to the same quarter last year. Furthermore, a total of 3,509 new ADGM work permits have been issued to businesses establishing on Al Reem Island.
In line with its focus on human capital, ADGM also introduced new Employment Regulations, aimed at enhancing workplace protections while preserving business agility.
ADGM's Global Outreach and Strategic Engagements
ADGM's international engagement efforts remained strong throughout Q1 2025, further highlighting its role as a global bridge for the growth of Abu Dhabi's financial sector.
In January, an ADGM delegation returned to iConnections Global Alts Miami to deepen its relationship with hedge funds, private equity firms, and venture capital leaders. The delegation held bilateral meetings in New York and Washington and participated in a headline panel discussion titled 'Abu Dhabi: The Capital of Capital', showcasing the emirate's strategic access to USD 1.7 trillion in sovereign wealth capital and its investor-friendly ecosystem.
In February, ADGM participated in the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development's (ADDED) high-level delegation to China, aimed at deepening bilateral economic ties between the two countries. With the UAE-China trade projected to reach USD 200 billion by 2030, ADGM is reinforcing Abu Dhabi's position as a vital gateway for Chinese capital into the region.
At the beginning of April, a high-level delegation from ADGM travelled to Japan, where they conducted nearly 30 strategic bilateral meetings with leading financial institutions. The discussions focused on key sectors, including private banking, wealth management, and family businesses, reflecting the commitment of Japanese companies to fostering international partnerships and expanding their footprint in the region.
Al Reem Island Integration
During Q1 2025, ADGM completed its jurisdictional expansion to Al Reem Island, which delivered strong results. By Q1 2025, over 600 new businesses had set up on Al Reem Island, and more than 500 existing Al Reem-based companies had migrated to an ADGM licence. Currently, a total of 1,100 new entities operate within ADGM's expanded jurisdiction.
ADGM's Strategic Moves for Blockchain Innovation and Tokenisation Frameworks
Reinforcing its position as a regulatory pioneer in digital assets, ADGM in March signed an MoU with Chainlink, the industry standard for onchain finance. The partnership will enable the development of compliant tokenisation frameworks by leveraging Chainlink's infrastructure and expertise.
Additionally, ADGM welcomed Stacks Asia and Bitgrit to its ecosystem in Q1 2025, which will leverage ADGM's world-leading Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) Foundations framework. These efforts are boosting Abu Dhabi's profile as a rising blockchain innovation hub at both regional and global levels.
ADGM's Continued Growth in Sustainable Finance
The Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Declaration now boasts 170 signatories, spanning banks, asset managers, investment funds, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Some of the recent names that became signatories include Aquila Capital, Century Financial, Oryx Global Partners, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Olive Gaea.
Driving Innovation Through Technology
ADGM officially launched its all-in-one mobile application to enhance the digital experience for businesses, employees, and residents in Q1 2025. The app offers real-time regulatory updates, compliance tools, licence renewals, and exclusive networking features.
It also introduced a groundbreaking digital platform for real estate transactions, enabling fully virtual sell-and-purchase workflows involving buyers, sellers, and financial institutions—a regional first that reflects ADGM's commitment to tech-driven transformation.
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2550581/5010772/ADGM_Logo.jpg
View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/adgm-kicks-off-2025-with-strong-first-quarter-performance-302471769.html
SOURCE ADGM

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Business Insider
29 minutes ago
- Business Insider
Eastern Region Group: Crypto Firms Shift from Singapore to Dubai Amid Regulatory Changes
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, July 25th, 2025, Chainwire Eastern Region Group announced the publication of a new analysis examining recent shifts in crypto business migration patterns, with a particular focus on movement between Singapore and Dubai. Based on the firm's direct experience advising digital asset companies, investors, and international founders in both jurisdictions, the report outlines key regulatory, operational, and strategic factors influencing these relocations and explores the broader implications for the digital assets industry. Over the past year, a decisive shift has taken place in the global crypto market. For more than a decade, Singapore was seen as the go-to destination for digital asset businesses in Asia — offering regulatory credibility, political stability, and institutional respect. But that reputation has come under pressure. In 2025, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) introduced a sweeping requirement: any crypto company serving clients abroad must obtain a full domestic license — regardless of whether they onboard Singaporean users or not. There was no grace period, no transitional licensing path, and no exemptions for smaller players or startups. As a result, a number of major crypto firms have begun shifting their core operations to Dubai, a jurisdiction that increasingly offers what Singapore no longer can: regulatory clarity, licensing flexibility, and structural support for global businesses. From Asia's Crypto Darling to a Regulatory Bottleneck Singapore's goal in tightening its rules was clear: reduce risk, protect retail investors, and prevent crypto-related financial crimes. But in doing so, it has made it almost impossible for non-institutional platforms to grow globally under its regime. Licensing can take more than a year, and approval is far from guaranteed, even for large, well-capitalized companies. Projects focused on DeFi, tokenization, Web3 services, or blockchain-based financial products often find themselves in legal grey zones, facing operational uncertainty and mounting legal costs. This shift in regulatory approach has led to a noticeable increase in corporate relocations within the digital assets sector. Several major firms have scaled back their operations or licensing efforts in Singapore, redirecting compliance and operational resources to jurisdictions such as the United Arab Emirates. In parallel, a number of mid-sized platforms and token issuers have withdrawn regulatory applications or suspended expansion plans in Singapore, opting to explore alternative hubs for growth and compliance alignment. Dubai's Rise: More Than Just Tax-Friendly Dubai's appeal lies not only in its 0% personal income and capital gains tax on crypto earnings, but in the regulatory optionality it offers. Companies can choose between: VARA, the world's first dedicated virtual assets regulator; DIFC, home to fintech and funds operating under English common law; ADGM, offering regulated digital finance with direct access to global capital; Free Zones like IFZA and DMCC for support functions and tech development. Licensing timelines are faster — often between 4 and 6 weeks — and the process is more transparent, with fewer surprises and stronger regulator engagement. The UAE maintains FATF-aligned AML standards and requires economic substance, giving credibility in the eyes of banks and global investors. Meanwhile, the government is actively backing blockchain development: Incentives for Web3 firms and token-based projects Flagship events like TOKEN2049 Dubai with 15,000+ attendees Dedicated real estate projects like Crypto Tower, turning the city into a global hub for next-gen digital finance What This Means for the Industry The decision between Singapore and Dubai is no longer only about geography — it's about vision. One model is increasingly focused on restriction and containment. The other enables innovation under clear rules. For founders, investors, and developers, Dubai is no longer the backup — it is the benchmark for globally scalable, legally sound, and economically viable crypto ventures. Eastern Region Group: At the Forefront of the Shift Eastern Region Group is actively tracking regulatory shifts and policy developments across major financial centers, with particular attention to the United Arab Emirates. The firm's regulatory specialists identify Dubai as a jurisdiction gaining prominence in the global digital assets sector. In response to these developments, Eastern Region Group has expanded its focus on Web3 strategy, licensing, and corporate structuring. The firm offers advisory services to companies evaluating jurisdictional options to support scalable and compliant digital asset operations. Eastern Region Group, where expertise meets innovation, and tailored solutions pave the way to a business's triumph. At ERG, they are more than just a service provider. They're a strategic ally, dedicated to supporting business founders, investors, employees, and their families in navigating the complex world of business in the United Arab Emirates and abroad.


Bloomberg
an hour ago
- Bloomberg
Who Loves Jensen More — Beijing or Washington?
This is Bloomberg Opinion Today, a symbiotic synthesis of Bloomberg Opinion's opinions. Sign up here. It's not easy to be on the good side — simultaneously — of both Xi Jinping and Donald Trump. But somehow, Nvidia chief executive officer Jensen Huang has managed to stay on the good side of Beijing and Washington. Last week, Huang wowed an audience in China by delivering a speech in Mandarin. The CEO of one of the world's most valuable companies by market cap was born in Mandarin-speaking Taiwan but, after moving to the US at age 9, spoke mainly English. His Mandarin speech was slightly halting, but (unlike Mark Zuckerberg's attempt a while back) Huang — now 62 — had the troublesome Chinese tones right, enunciating with confidence. The result was widespread acclaim in the People's Republic.


Fox News
3 hours ago
- Fox News
Jets owner Woody Johnson's Crystal Palace Stake Gets Green Light
Crystal Palace confirmed Thursday that New York Jets owner Woody Johnson's purchase of Eagle Football's shareholding in the Premier League club has been completed. "I am honored and privileged to be joining the ownership group of Crystal Palace Football Club," Johnson told the club website. Palace announced last month that Johnson had signed "a legally binding contract" to buy the shares of fellow American John Textor, who had a 43% stake in the London club, with reports at the time placing the price between $220 million and $260 million. The latest club statement gave no financial details. Johnson joins chairman Steve Parish, Josh Harris and David Blitzer as a partner and director of the club, and has also signed the Premier League's Owners' Charter. "It is an organization with a proud history, tradition, and deep roots in English football in South London, which I came to admire during my time as US Ambassador to the United Kingdom," Johnson said. Palace finished 12th last season in the 20-team Premier League. Johnson's arrival at Palace comes with the club in dispute with UEFA over which European competition it will play in next season after winning the FA Cup in May — its first major trophy in 120 years of existence. Palace was demoted from the Europa League to the Conference League after falling foul of UEFA's rules governing multi-club ownership, but has submitted an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. UEFA determined that as of March 1, Textor had control or influence in Palace and French club Lyon. Textor said he had agreed to sell his stake in Palace to Johnson, but the move came too late to satisfy UEFA. Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!