ADGM posts increase of 215% in total assets under management

Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) has announced another quarter of unprecedented growth, with exceptional achievements for the third quarter of 2024 across key metrics.

ADGM recorded a substantial increase of 215% in total Assets Under Management (AUM) in Q3 2024 compared to Q3 2023, demonstrating its rapid ascent as a top asset management hub in the Mena region.

The results underscore ADGM’s pivotal role in Abu Dhabi’s strategic ambition to diversify its economy and solidify its position as a premier global destination for finance, investment, and innovation. ADGM continues to align with Abu Dhabi’s economic growth, which registered a 6.6% growth in non-oil GDP, in the Q2 of 2024.

Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, the Chairman of ADGM, remarked, “Our record-breaking achievements in Q3 exemplify the appeal of ADGM’s world-class ecosystem that brings together a stable regulatory environment, strategic location and ease of doing business. The continued influx of businesses and investors into ADGM highlights Abu Dhabi’s competitive advantage in the global financial industry and the growth of the Falcon Economy. As we pave the ‘Path to Forward’, we aim to continue building on this momentum to deliver further growth and innovation that benefits not just Abu Dhabi and the UAE, but the wider financial community.”

This growth highlights ADGM’s ability to attract high-calibre asset managers, investment funds, and private equity firms, establishing it as a go-to location for institutional investors worldwide. This is also reflected in the growth of the total fund and asset managers, which reached 128, managing 156 funds, as of the end of Q3 2024.

Joiners during the Q3 of 2024 include PGIM, Nuveen and Elysium Management. PGIM is a $1.33 trillion US asset manager, while Nuveen manages $1.2 trillion of assets. Other recent joiners include Stonepeak, a leading alternative investment firm specialising in infrastructure and real assets, and Gemcorp Capital.

In Q3 of 2024, ADGM saw a 33% rise in the number of newly issued business licences compared to the same period last year. A total of 759 new licences were issued over the period to financial, non-financial and retail firms. The total number of operational entities within ADGM’s jurisdiction jumped to 2,251, an impressive 31% year-on-year growth. The surge reflects strong demand from a diverse range of sectors, including asset management, FinTech, and professional services, within ADGM’s ecosystem.

Furthermore, the workforce within ADGM’s jurisdiction has been steadily increasing with more and more businesses joining its vibrant ecosystem. Since Q3 2023, there has been an influx of 4,433 workers, marking an increase of 35% in the overall workforce.ADGM on its ‘Path to Forward’ ADGM recently launched its new brand ‘Path to Forward,’ which captures its role as a trusted, dynamic, sustainable, and future-focused financial centre. It also unveiled a new logo, which retains the sun’s qualities of its legacy logo as a source of energy, which has been enhanced to symbolise growth, resilience and optimism. The design of the emblem is influenced by the shapes and contours of Arabic script, illustrating a connection point and a guiding star, enabling businesses to navigate the ‘Path to Forward’. The announcement marked a significant milestone in ADGM’s evolution into one of the world’s largest financial districts and highlighted its ambitions for the future.

ADGM’s regulatory framework, underpinned by the direct application of English Common Law, continues to provide transparency and trust, attracting global firms and solidifying its reputation as a secure and reliable financial jurisdiction.

It has been at the forefront of introducing new regulatory enhancements aimed at supporting the dynamic and evolving needs of its expanding ecosystem. This included introducing the new Whistleblowing framework reflecting ADGM’s commitment to sustain transparency, accountability and market integrity within the IFC. On the digital assets side, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of ADGM published a consultation paper to enhance its regulatory framework to allow the issuance of Fiat-Referenced Tokens (FRTs), a category of stablecoins that are backed by high-quality, liquid assets denominated in the same currency as the FRT and that can be liquidated rapidly with minimal adverse price effect.

After expanding its jurisdiction to Al Reem Island, ADGM entered the transition period where businesses are moving to ADGM licenses to be regulated by its robust regulations. An incentive initiative was introduced in March to ensure a seamless transition by exempting businesses operating within the non-financial and retail sectors on Al Reem Island from paying any fees to obtain an ADGM commercial licence until 31st October 2024. This date has now been extended to 31st December 2024.

WAM