Today's Edition
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
Abu Dhabi's proximity to sovereign wealth and rapid regulatory adoption give it a distinct edge over other financial hubs, industry leaders told Money Expo Abu Dhabi 2026 on Thursday. Speakers at a panel discussion examined the factors drawing global capital to Abu Dhabi.
Bilal Javaid, Head of Finance at Hub71, said investors should judge Abu Dhabi not by secondary-market equity metrics but by its closeness to major capital allocators.
“In London or New York, you're competing against thousands of fund managers,” he said. “In Abu Dhabi, it's about working in the same building as the sovereigns who move the needle.”
He pointed to ADGM's roster of more than 170 registered asset managers and a 26% rise in assets under management over the past decade as evidence of momentum.
In the first quarter of 2026, Abu Dhabi Global Market reported a 57% year-on-year increase in assets under management. The number of asset and fund managers rose 24% to 179, overseeing 263 funds, while active licences surpassed 13,353.
Javaid also pointed out that startups supported by Hub71 are developing technologies that simplify payments, compliance and business operations, helping lower operating costs for companies entering the market.
Abu Dhabi’s next step, he added, is to reduce friction further so international firms do not simply establish offices in the emirate but use it as a base to execute deals and deploy capital.
Amer Al Ahbabi, Group Chairman of Vertix Holdings, said liquidity remains a central consideration for investors, particularly in real estate and alternative assets.
He noted that Abu Dhabi's expanding freehold property market allows investors worldwide to enter and exit investments more easily, while emerging technologies such as tokenisation are creating additional options to improve liquidity and diversify portfolios.
Meanwhile, Carmen Tan, Managing Director for MENA at GCEX, said the UAE's evolving regulatory landscape has increased confidence among international investors.
She highlighted improvements in banking infrastructure and growing integration of blockchain technology, saying banks are becoming more receptive to digital asset solutions while maintaining strong compliance standards.
“A lot of banks here are proactively integrating layer-one chains,” Tan said. “We already use this in practice,” whereby client funds can move from the UAE to the UK within a day using on-chain rails, with the bank acting as custodian.
Cross-border settlement times have shortened, she added, though verification for traditional SWIFT transfers can still stretch to 14 business days when compliance checks are involved.
Looking ahead, Tan argued that Abu Dhabi’s long-term opportunity lies in attracting multinational companies seeking a regional presence rather than replacing their existing operations in other financial centres.
She pointed to shifting conditions in established markets and the UAE’s attractive tax environment as factors that could support the emirate’s appeal.
