ADGM is the UAE’s second major Common Law financial centre alongside DIFC — and for businesses targeting Abu Dhabi’s vast sovereign wealth, government institutions and capital markets ecosystem, it is arguably the more strategically positioned choice.
ADGM hosts a growing community of international banks, asset managers, family offices, fintech companies and professional services firms. Its proximity to the Abu Dhabi Government, Mubadala, ADNOC, ADPIE, sovereign wealth funds and major institutional investors gives ADGM-registered companies unparalleled access to Abu Dhabi’s capital and decision-making community.
Like DIFC, ADGM companies fall into two categories: regulated entities requiring FSRA authorisation to provide financial services, and non-regulated entities operating in professional services, technology, consulting, holding and family office activities without FSRA approval. Non-regulated ADGM companies are significantly more accessible in terms of cost and setup timeline.
ADGM is particularly known for its family office ecosystem — it has actively positioned itself as the leading UAE jurisdiction for ultra-high-net-worth family office structures, with a dedicated family office framework and a growing community of wealth managers, private banks and family advisors.
XILLION’s ADGM guidance: The first question with ADGM is always whether you need a regulated or non-regulated structure. We assess this clearly before any application — and then manage the entire process from ADGM Registrar submission to banking with full transparency and 12+ years UAE expertise.