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ADGM: Abu Dhabi's common-law financial centre for funds, family offices & digital assets

ADGM (Abu Dhabi Global Market) is the UAE's English common-law financial free zone, established by Federal Decree No. 15 of 2013 and operational since October 2015. Anchored on Al Maryah Island and now extended to Al Reem Island, ADGM is supervised by the independent FSRA regulator and arbitrated by the ADGM Courts. Home to 11,128 active licenses and 154 fund managers running 209 funds (H1 2025), it is the Gulf's reference hub for banking, asset management, family offices and regulated virtual assets.
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Why ADGM matters in the UAE financial landscape

ADGM is one of only two common-law jurisdictions in the UAE (alongside DIFC). What sets it apart is the Application of English Law Regulations 2015: English common law applies directly and dynamically inside ADGM, without intermediate codification. The bench of the ADGM Courts is staffed exclusively by common-law judges drawn from the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.
Operational since October 2015, ADGM rests on three independent authorities: the Registration Authority (corporate registry), the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) (financial supervision), and the ADGM Courts (civil and commercial justice).
The expansion to Al Reem Island (Cabinet Decision No. 41 of 2023, fully effective from 31 December 2024) multiplied the jurisdiction tenfold. ADGM now covers roughly 14.3 million m². At end of H1 2025 the registry showed 11,128 active commercial licenses, 154 fund managers operating 209 funds, and more than 35,900 professionals on site. AUM grew +42% year-on-year.

What you can run under an ADGM licence

ADGM is structured around four historic pillars (banking, asset management, wealth and capital markets) plus the strategic verticals of virtual assets, regulated fintech and sustainable finance. Five activity clusters cover most incoming files.

Private banking & wealth management

Wholesale banks (Standard Chartered), global custodians (BNY Mellon), international private banks (Julius Baer) and UHNW advisers operate under FSRA Cat 1, Cat 3B or Cat 4. Target client: Gulf wealth, multi-generational family offices, founders in exit.

Asset management & regulated funds

154 fund managers run 209 funds at ADGM (H1 2025). Hedge funds (Brevan Howard), alternative managers (Lunate, Mubadala Capital), private equity, venture and shariah-compliant funds. Cat 3C is the workhorse category, with +45% new FSPs and +42% AUM YoY in H1 2025.

Regulated virtual assets & digital tokens

Dedicated FSPs cover crypto MTFs (M2, Binance), custody, broking and digital-asset management. The DLT Foundations framework lets DAOs and decentralised protocols incorporate as common-law foundations. The Fiat-Referenced Tokens (FRT) regime takes effect on 1 January 2026.

Family offices, SPVs & wealth structures

Single and multi family offices, Special Purpose Vehicles for structuring, group holdings and common-law Foundations. ADGM is the Gulf reference hub for family offices, sitting next door to Abu Dhabi sovereign capital: ADIA, Mubadala, ADQ.

RegLab fintech & Hub71

The RegLab, the first fintech sandbox in MENA and the second worldwide, admits cohorts of early-stage fintechs under a lighter FSP to test in real conditions before graduating to the full regime. ADGM also hosts Hub71, the Mubadala-backed tech ecosystem and natural entry point for sovereign-backed startups.

What you actually get at ADGM

Concrete entitlements that come with every ADGM entity. What the brochure rarely spells out in plain language.
English common law applies directly via the Application of English Law Regulations 2015.
Independent FSRA regulator with five Financial Services Permission categories.
ADGM Courts staffed exclusively by common-law judges (UK, Australia, NZ, Singapore).
100% foreign ownership, no local sponsor or service-agent required.
100% repatriation of capital and profits, no currency restrictions.
Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) regime: 0% on qualifying income, 9% above AED 375,000.
Fully digital corporate registry: incorporation, filings and renewals online.
Mature virtual-asset regime: MTF, custody, broker and FRT (effective 1 January 2026).
RegLab fintech sandbox and DLT Foundations framework for DAOs and on-chain protocols.
Mainland UAE access via Cabinet Resolution No. 11 of March 2025: temporary permit or onshore branch.

Pick the structure that matches your model

ADGM covers the full spectrum: from a light SPV with no office to a fully regulated universal bank. Three families capture the bulk of incoming files. The non-regulated track is the most accessible entry point.
Most picked

Non-regulated & SPV

Holding companies, SPVs and Tech Startup licences, the accessible track.
  • SPV: AED 25,000 to 50,000 Year 1, no office required
  • Tech Startup: RA fee USD 1,500, Y1 from AED 25,000 to 80,000
  • Holding company for UAE / GCC assets and group structuring
  • Hub71 access for eligible Tech Startups
  • QFZP-eligible (0% on qualifying income with substance)

FSRA-regulated (Cat 1 to 5)

The Financial Services Permission, ADGM’s flagship licence for regulated players.
  • Cat 1: universal banking (deposit-taking)
  • Cat 3A / 3B / 3C: dealing, custody, asset & fund management
  • Cat 4: arranging, advising, light-touch & multi family office
  • Cat 5: Islamic finance
  • Year 1 cost: AED 350,000 to AED 1M+ depending on category
  • Authorisation: 4 to 9 months (IPA → final FSP)

Family Office & Foundation

Patrimonial and intergenerational structures, common-law Foundations.
  • Single Family Office: light-touch regime
  • Multi Family Office: Cat 4 lite-regulated
  • Common-law Foundations for succession and philanthropy
  • DLT Foundations for DAOs and on-chain governance
  • Direct proximity to ADIA, Mubadala, ADQ, Lunate

Institutional names established at ADGM

ADGM hosts a tight, institutional ecosystem: international banks, alternative managers, sovereign capital, regulated crypto and UHNW private banks. A representative sample of the resident community.
Wholesale banking

Standard Chartered

Wholesale branch at Al Khatem Tower, ADGM Square. No retail activity at ADGM.
Global custody

BNY Mellon

FSRA Category 4 licence obtained November 2024: custody, fund admin and transfer agency for the Gulf region.
Asset management

BlackRock

Commercial licence issued November 2024; targeting GCC sovereigns and institutional allocators from the ADGM hub.
Hedge fund

Brevan Howard

Largest global office of the fund; USD 2bn partnership with Lunate announced August 2025.
Alternative AM

Lunate

Abu Dhabi-based alternative asset manager, approximately USD 110bn AUM, one of the region’s largest alts platforms.
Sovereign

Mubadala Capital

Asset-management arm of the Mubadala sovereign wealth fund, headquartered inside ADGM.
Crypto MTF

M2

FSRA-regulated multilateral trading facility and crypto custodian, one of the flagship licensees of the virtual-asset regime.
Private bank

Julius Baer

Advisory office targeting UHNW individuals and family offices in the Gulf.

Al Maryah Island & Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi

ADGM is anchored on Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi’s financial CBD, and extends since 2025 to Al Reem Island. Total jurisdiction now spans roughly 14.3 million m².
  • 20 min to Zayed International Airport (AUH)
  • 1h20 drive to central Dubai
  • Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi’s financial CBD
  • Al Reem Island extension operational since 2025
  • Notable neighbours: ADIA, Mubadala, ADQ, Lunate, G42

ADGM Square

Al Khatem Tower, the authority’s seat at the heart of the campus

Galleria Mall & F&B

Luxury retail and dining on Al Maryah Island

Banks & custodians

Standard Chartered, BNY Mellon, Julius Baer all on-site

ADGM Courts

Common-law bench, dedicated arbitration centre

How we incorporate your ADGM entity

Six steps from scope call to issued licence. Timelines vary sharply: an SPV is delivered in 2–4 weeks, a regulated FSP takes 4–9 months.
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Scope the activity

Define the perimeter: SPV, Tech Startup, Holding, Family Office or FSRA-regulated activity (Cat 1 to Cat 5). Pre-call with our regulatory team to map your model to the right category.

Pick the legal form

Common-law Limited Company (LTD), Foundation for patrimonial structures, branch of an existing company, or SPV for holding vehicles. Each form has its own filing and capital implications.

Reserve the trade name

Name check and reservation with the Registration Authority via the online portal. Suffix “Limited” or “Foundation” depending on the structure.

Build the regulatory file

Articles of association, business plan, KYC/AML and, for FSP activities, a detailed Regulatory Business Plan submitted to the FSRA. The In-Principle Approval lets you finalise office, capital and senior team before the final licence.

Lease premises & fund the capital

Sign the lease (flexi-desk to private office) and pay up share capital per FSRA category (USD 10,000 Cat 4 up to USD 500,000+ Cat 3A). SPVs are exempt from the office requirement.

Issue licence & visas

Certificate of registration from the Registration Authority and, where applicable, Financial Services Permission from the FSRA. Two-year employer visas processed in roughly 7 days.
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Four realities first-time founders miss at ADGM

Physical office is mandatory

Every regulated entity needs leased space on Al Maryah Island or Al Reem Island. The visa quota tracks square metres: roughly one visa per 8 m². Flexi-desk: 1–3 visas; private office: 10+. SPVs are the only exception and can register without physical premises.

FSRA authorisation timeline

A regulated FSP (Cat 3C asset manager, Cat 4 adviser, Cat 1 bank) takes 4 to 9 months: In-Principle Approval, Senior Executive interviews, then final FSP. Budget accordingly. Non-regulated SPVs and Tech Startups are delivered in 2 to 4 weeks.

Data protection & AML compliance

ADGM has its own Data Protection Regulations (DPR 2021) aligned with GDPR and a robust AML/CFT regime supervised by the FSRA. Plan for a Data Protection Officer for in-scope activities and ongoing AML training for senior executives.

Corporate tax 9% trigger

UAE corporate tax kicks in at 9% on net profit above AED 375,000. ADGM entities can stay at 0% under the QFZP regime on qualifying income, subject to real substance (office, employees, decisions at ADGM), IFRS audited accounts, transfer-pricing documentation and the 5% / AED 5M de minimis test.

What's inside our ADGM all-in-one package

One transparent fee for non-regulated structures (SPV, Holding or Tech Startup) covering incorporation, residence visa and UAE banking. Regulated FSP files are scoped separately. SPV from AED 25,000; Tech Startup from AED 30,000 Year 1.

Company formation

  • Trade name reservation with the Registration Authority
  • Licence issuance (SPV, Holding or Tech Startup)
  • Articles of Association drafting & e-signature
  • Registered address at Al Maryah Island or Al Reem Island
  • Establishment card
  • Corporate Tax registration & initial compliance filing
  • Activity selection & regulatory mapping

Residence visa

  • Entry permit issuance (employer visa, 2 years)
  • Medical fitness test coordination
  • Emirates ID application & biometrics
  • Visa stamping inside passport
  • Status change inside the UAE
  • Processed in approximately 7 days post-licence

Banking

  • Business and personal account introductions
  • Document pack prepared to bank-ready standard
  • Application coaching & relationship-manager intros
  • Follow-up support until accounts are opened
  • Multi-currency capability for cross-border flows
Request a tailored quote

DIY vs working with us

On your own

Compare 45+ providers
Rules, prices and procedures all over the place
Check trade-name availability
Submit the request and wait for approval
Fill admin forms & files
Errors = delays or fines
Gather supporting documents
Missing or incorrect = rejection or fines
Chase extra approvals
Miss one and you trigger penalties or delays
Shop prices and locations
Hidden costs likely
Handle the payments
Procedural errors = fines or delays
Run the visa process
Strict steps and timelines, fine risk
Shop UAE banks cold
High rejection risk
Track compliance yourself
VAT & renewals → penalties if missed
Time sink
Stress, errors, financial risk
Recommended

With us

An optimal structure
Tailored to your goals
Trade name reserved
Fast and approved
Dedicated personal support
By your side at every step
Compliant, validated file
Optimised to pass first time
Easier networking
Targeted introductions
Optimised investment
No unnecessary costs
End-to-end support
Fast and stress-free
Single point of contact
Clear, personalised follow-up
Bank account opening
Fast and simplified
Zero stress, total peace of mind
We look after everything
100% business focus
We handle the rest
See how we work with you

Teams we've set up at ADGM

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"The service was incredible. No hidden fees like with many agencies I'd heard about. The service was truly top-notch. I didn't have to manage a single thing. I highly recommend them!"
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"Setting up my company in Dubai with Créer Société Dubai was a perfect experience. Joïca showed great professionalism, always attentive and available. Everything went smoothly and stress-free. I strongly recommend their services to anyone wanting to settle in Dubai with confidence."
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ADGM: frequently asked questions

It depends sharply on the structure. For a non-regulated SPV or Holding, budget AED 25,000 to 50,000 per year. A Tech Startup licence runs AED 25,000 to 80,000 in Year 1 (Registration Authority fee USD 1,500).

For a regulated FSRA entity (Cat 3C asset manager, Cat 4 adviser), plan for AED 350,000 to AED 700,000 in Year 1, plus minimum capital (USD 10,000 Cat 4, USD 250,000 Cat 3C, USD 500,000 Cat 3A). A full Cat 1 universal bank or a complete crypto MTF can reach AED 1M to 3M+ in Year 1.

Both are UAE common-law financial centres, but the legal mechanic differs: ADGM applies English common law directly and dynamically via the 2015 Regulations, while DIFC has codified its own statutes inspired by common law.

ADGM is younger (operational 2015 vs DIFC 2004), based in Abu Dhabi (sovereign capital proximity: ADIA, Mubadala, ADQ, Lunate, G42), and has built the leading regional framework for fintech and virtual assets (RegLab, DLT Foundations, FRT regime from 1 January 2026). DIFC remains the heavyweight on international private banking and insurance. For a fund manager, a family office anchored to Abu Dhabi sovereigns, or a regulated crypto project, ADGM is usually the better fit.

Yes. The FSRA issues dedicated Financial Services Permissions for virtual assets: MTF (regulated exchange), custodian, broker and digital-asset investment manager. The regime works by notification on the Accepted Virtual Assets list, with explicit prohibition of privacy coins and algorithmic stablecoins.

Binance obtained its first global crypto licence at ADGM in 2025; M2 and Rain MENA are also licensed. The Fiat-Referenced Tokens (FRT) framework comes into force on 1 January 2026, giving a clear regulatory path for stablecoin issuers.

Yes, except for SPVs. Every regulated or operating entity needs leased space at Al Maryah Island or the Al Reem Island extension. The visa quota tracks square metres: roughly one visa per 8 m². Flexi-desk supports 1–3 visas, a private office unlocks 10+.

Special Purpose Vehicles are the only structure exempt from the physical-office requirement. They can register with just a Registered Agent. The QFZP 0% tax status also requires real substance: office, employees and decisions taken at ADGM.

For a regulated FSP (Cat 3C asset manager, Cat 4 adviser, Cat 1 bank), plan for 4 to 9 months from filing to final permission. The process is two-stage: In-Principle Approval (IPA) after review of the Regulatory Business Plan and Senior Executive interviews, then the final FSP once office, capital and key personnel are in place.

By contrast, a non-regulated structure (SPV, Tech Startup, Holding, single family office) is issued by the Registration Authority in 2 to 4 weeks. RegLab fintech cohorts have their own track with lighter requirements.

Yes. ADGM is the Gulf reference hub for family offices. The framework distinguishes Single Family Office (one family, light-touch regime, no FSRA permission required) from Multi Family Office (several families, Cat 4 lite-regulated).

You can pair the family office with an ADGM Foundation (common-law structure for succession, philanthropy, asset protection) and SPVs for individual holdings. Direct proximity to ADIA, Mubadala, ADQ and Lunate, plus the common-law bench of the ADGM Courts, is what draws intergenerational Gulf wealth and international UHNW families to incorporate here.

Other free zones worth considering

Each free zone serves a different model. If ADGM isn't quite the right fit, these are the closest alternatives.

DIFC

From AED 5,500
DIFC: Dubai's common-law financial centre for banks, funds and family offices
See free-zone page →

Masdar City Free Zone

From AED 7,000
Masdar City: the Abu Dhabi free zone for clean energy, AI & deep-tech founders
See free-zone page →

DMCC

From AED 20,285
DMCC: the world's #1 free zone for commodities, trading & finance
See free-zone page →

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