Today's Edition
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
Abu Dhabi’s financial sector is attracting global capital, talent and innovation, supported by strong fiscal fundamentals, sovereign-backed investment programmes and economic diversification, according to a CBRE report.
Assets under management at Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) rose 54% year-on-year in the first half of 2026, while the number of active licences increased to 13,974 from 11,120 a year earlier, the Abu Dhabi Finance Sector Report 2026 said.
The number of operational entities at the international financial centre grew 34% to 3,986, including 392 financial services entities, up 27% year-on-year. Its workforce across Al Maryah and Al Reem islands reached 49,027 professionals. The expansion also attracted asset managers overseeing substantial international portfolios.
Firms that established operations at ADGM during the first half of the year collectively managed more than $2.1 trillion in global assets. The number of active asset managers rose 23% to 190, while the number of funds increased 32% to 276.
Asset managers that established operations in ADGM during the first half of the year collectively managed more than $2.1 trillion in global assets, the report said.
The expansion comes as Abu Dhabi strengthens its position among international financial centres. The emirate climbed to 13th in the Global Financial Centres Index in September 2026, up from 28th a year earlier.
CBRE also highlighted the emirate’s sovereign credit ratings, with Fitch Ratings affirming its AA rating with a stable outlook in May and S&P Global Ratings affirming its AA/A-1+ ratings with a stable outlook in March.
The agencies cited Abu Dhabi’s fiscal position, substantial sovereign and external assets and economic diversification efforts.
The report noted that financial and insurance activities remained a key driver of the UAE economy, with the sector recording year-on-year growth of 12.3% in the second quarter of 2026, following expansion of 17.3% in the first quarter.
In Abu Dhabi, finance and insurance activities expanded 8.5% to a record Dh21.3 billion in the third quarter of 2025, accounting for 6.5% of the emirate’s gross domestic product, according to the latest data cited by CBRE.
The emirate’s growing technology sector is also contributing to its appeal to international investors.
CBRE highlighted major investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure, cloud computing and data centres, alongside initiatives aimed at establishing Abu Dhabi as a global hub for AI development and deployment.
The growth of Abu Dhabi’s financial sector is also boosting demand for office space, particularly around ADGM, the report said.
Average office rents across Abu Dhabi increased 20.1% year-on-year to Dh2,299 per square metre annually in the third quarter of 2026. Prime office rents rose 28.8% to Dh3,400 per square metre annually, while Grade A rents increased 12.5%.
Market-wide office occupancy reached 96.4% in the third quarter, up from 95.2% a year earlier. Within ADGM, asking rents for new leases and renewals exceeded Dh6,000 per square metre annually for the limited space available, the report said.
CBRE said the shortage of high-quality office space was likely to persist in the near term, with several major developments not expected to be completed before 2028-29.
Projects in the pipeline include the Mubadala-Aldar joint venture on Al Maryah Island, which is expected to deliver more than 450,000 square metres of Grade A office space as part of a wider development covering about 1.5 million square metres of gross floor area.
The report said limited near-term supply, combined with sustained demand from international companies and government-related entities, would continue to support landlords, particularly in prime locations around ADGM.
