Abu Dhabi's ADGM Workforce Nears 50,000 as Influx of Asset Managers Drives Rapid Growth

Abu Dhabi's financial centre ADGM announced that its workforce has expanded to nearly 50,000 following an influx of new asset managers during the first half of the year. Assets under management at ADGM experienced a 54 per cent annual increase over the first six months, bringing the total number of professionals based out of Al Maryah Island and Al Reem Island to 49,027—a 34 per cent rise compared to the same period last year.

Active licences climbed to approximately 14,000, with 1,814 new licences issued during the first half, according to a statement released by ADGM on Tuesday. These encompass operating companies, financial institutions, and the holding and investment structures utilized to channel capital into and out of Abu Dhabi.

“The scale of growth we are witnessing across capital, institutions, businesses and talent demonstrates sustained international confidence in Abu Dhabi,” stated Ahmed Al Zaabi, chairman of ADGM. “Through ADGM, we are … reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as the capital of capital and advancing our ambition to become among the world’s top-five leading international financial centres.”

As the largest international financial centre in the Middle East and Africa region by active licences, ADGM has continued drawing global institutions. The UAE capital recently welcomed high-profile entities including private credit lender Blue Owl Capital, tech-focused US private equity firm Vista Equity Partners, world-leading listed hedge fund Man Group, Barings, Bain Capital, Cantor, and Swiss derivative investment company Adapt Investment Managers.

Collectively, the asset managers that established operations within ADGM in the first half of the year oversee more than $2.1 trillion in global assets under management. The total number of fund and asset managers based in ADGM reached 190, marking a 23 per cent annual increase after adding 11 managers in the second quarter. Furthermore, funds hosted at the hub grew 32 per cent year-on-year to reach 276 during the January-to-June period.

Several trillion-dollar asset managers are also anchored at ADGM, featuring prominent names such as BlackRock, State Street, Prudential Financial's global asset management unit PGIM, Chicago investment company Nuveen, and Capital Group.

In addition to traditional finance, ADGM reported a growing number of institutions deploying capital into artificial intelligence, with entities established in the financial centre—such as MGX—now holding over $100 billion in AI-focused investments. During the first half of 2026, the financial centre also finalized the initial phase of its AI implementation, reducing manual workloads by over 5,000 staff hours annually.

ADGM noted it remains committed to strengthening the “data, governance, cybersecurity and workforce foundations required to scale AI responsibly.” Under a technology road map extending through 2029, ADGM plans to invest more than Dh400 million ($109 million) to expand these capabilities, enhance digital infrastructure, and modernize its core regulatory and operational systems.