Set up in Abu Dhabi Global Market — the capital's international financial centre, with the direct application of English common law, an internationally benchmarked FSRA regulator and its own independent courts.
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) is the capital's international financial centre, established in 2013 and opened for business on 21 October 2015. It applies English common law directly and rests on three independent authorities: the Registration Authority, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) and ADGM Courts. Based on Al Maryah Island, it expanded to Al Reem Island in 2023.
Abu Dhabi Global Market was established in 2013 and opened for business on 21 October 2015 as an international financial centre and broad-based financial free zone. It is built on three independent authorities: the Registration Authority (RA), which incorporates and administers companies; the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), which authorises and supervises financial firms; and ADGM Courts, an independent common-law judiciary of First Instance and Appeal.
ADGM's defining feature is its legal framework: it applies English common law directly — adopting the law of England and Wales (and certain English statutes) as the law of the jurisdiction — making it distinctive even among the region's financial centres. Originally based on Al Maryah Island, ADGM's jurisdiction was expanded to Al Reem Island in 2023, substantially enlarging its footprint. It is the home of Abu Dhabi's financial-services, asset-management, family-office and innovation ecosystems.
ADGM is not a standard free zone — it is an independent common-law jurisdiction inside the UAE, with its own courts and its own financial regulator (the FSRA). Its direct application of English common law and its asset-management, family-office and virtual-asset frameworks set it apart in the capital.
ADGM applies the law of England and Wales directly, rather than enacting its own separate code — the only jurisdiction in the region to do so. Global counterparties recognise the framework for contracts, shareholder agreements, financing and dispute resolution.
The Financial Services Regulatory Authority authorises and supervises financial firms under a risk-based, principles-led framework benchmarked to leading international regulators — the accepted credential for asset and fund managers in the capital.
Independent courts of First Instance and Appeal, English-language, applying common law — with a track record of enforcing commercial contracts and available by opt-in to non-ADGM parties.
ADGM is a leading UAE jurisdiction for Foundations, Special Purpose Vehicles and family-office structures — common-law vehicles used for succession planning, asset holding and multigenerational wealth.
ADGM launched one of the region's first fintech regulatory sandboxes (RegLab) and operates a comprehensive FSRA framework for virtual assets and digital-asset businesses — a magnet for fintech and Web3 ventures.
The 2023 expansion to Al Reem Island substantially enlarged ADGM's footprint, sitting alongside Abu Dhabi's wider innovation and venture ecosystem and the capital's sovereign and institutional capital base.
ADGM supports regulated financial firms (under FSRA permissions), innovation and tech ventures, non-financial commercial businesses and a strong base of holding, SPV and foundation structures.
Authorised by the FSRA under a categorised, risk-based framework — covering asset and fund management, advisory, brokerage, banking and capital-market activities, each with its own prudential and conduct requirements.
Innovation and tech ventures — fintech, regtech, AI and Web3 — supported by ADGM's RegLab sandbox and the wider Abu Dhabi innovation ecosystem.
Common-law holding companies, Special Purpose Vehicles and Foundations for asset holding, succession planning and group structuring — an ADGM strength.
Commercial and professional-services licences for the firms that support the financial ecosystem — legal, audit, advisory, consultancy and corporate services.
Drawn from ADGM's English common-law framework, the legal forms cover operating companies, partnerships, branches and the holding / wealth vehicles ADGM is known for.
Closely held limited-liability company — the default vehicle for most ADGM operating and professional businesses.
Company permitted to offer shares to the public — used for capital-raising and listed structures.
A streamlined holding / financing vehicle widely used in ADGM for asset holding, securitisation and group structuring.
Partnership combining limited liability with operational flexibility — popular with professional and advisory practices.
A common-law structure used for succession planning, asset protection and philanthropic purposes.
Branch of an existing UAE or overseas parent, operating under the parent's name and balance sheet.
ADGM runs incorporation through the Registration Authority — FSRA-regulated firms add an in-principle regulatory approval before the entity is registered.
Match the planned activity to a non-financial commercial licence, an SPV / Foundation, or — for financial services — an FSRA permission category that drives capital, conduct and reporting.
For FSRA-regulated activities, submit the regulatory application — business plan, governance, controlled functions and AML framework. FSRA review runs several weeks.
Reserve the company name with the Registration Authority and arrange premises — co-working, serviced or leased office space across Al Maryah and Al Reem.
File incorporation documents with the Registration Authority. Articles are drafted to the chosen structure — company, SPV, LLP, Foundation or branch.
Onboard with an ADGM-active bank using the corporate documents and, for regulated firms, the regulatory file.
Investor and employee visas processed through ADGM's government-services channel alongside Emirates ID and medicals.
The standard document set is consistent across structures. FSRA-regulated activities require an additional regulatory file — business plan, governance, AML framework and key-personnel applications.
ADGM combines a globally recognised legal framework with the capital's institutional and innovation ecosystems.
ADGM entities are subject to the UAE Federal Corporate Tax (ADGM has no independent tax regime) and can qualify for the 0% QFZP rate. ADGM is not a Designated Zone for VAT purposes — Federal VAT applies to taxable supplies in the standard way.
ADGM entities follow UAE Federal Corporate Tax under Decree-Law 47/2022 — 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000. Most ADGM entities can elect the Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) regime and pay 0% on Qualifying Income; ADGM's regulated-finance and holding profile makes QFZP common.
ADGM entities follow standard UAE VAT — 5% on taxable supplies, AED 375,000 mandatory registration threshold. Financial services carry specific VAT-exempt and zero-rated treatments under Federal Decree-Law 8/2017 and the FTA Financial Services Guide.
Sources & official references: Federal Decree-Law 47/2022 (Corporate Tax) · Cabinet Decision 100/2023 (QFZP) · Federal Decree-Law 8/2017 (VAT) · ADGM Companies Regulations · FSRA Rulebook
ADGM's member base reflects Abu Dhabi's financial and innovation economy.
Avyanco runs ADGM engagements end-to-end — from activity scoping and FSRA category selection through to a banked, visa-ready entity registered for Corporate Tax and VAT.
We map the business to the right ADGM commercial licence, SPV / Foundation, or FSRA permission — clear about the capital, conduct and reporting each carries.
Holding, SPV, fund and Foundation structures designed around ADGM's English common-law framework and UAE Corporate Tax efficiency.
For FSRA-regulated activities, we prepare the business plan, governance and AML file the regulator's review will require.
Introductions to UAE and international banks active in ADGM, with the compliance file onboarding requires.
Investor, partner and employee visas processed through ADGM's government-services channel alongside Emirates ID and medicals.
FTA registrations and ongoing filings — including QFZP eligibility assessment for the 0% qualifying-income rate.
Partner-level advisors covering every leg of an ADGM setup — formation, regulatory file, structuring, tax and ongoing compliance.
Three things that come up in every ADGM engagement once the licence is issued.
Live engagements with FSRA-regulated firms, fund managers, family offices and fintechs — we know which permission, capital and conduct requirements actually apply.
Licence, regulatory file, articles, premises, bank, visa and tax — handled by one team on one engagement letter.
Recommendations shaped by ADGM's Foundation, SPV and family-office strengths — not generic SME templates.
ADGM suits regulated finance, funds, family offices, SPVs and innovation ventures in the capital. Other zones serve different sectors — compare here.
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I have been dealing with Akshta for more than a year now and she has been very professional.
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Content verified against the official ADGM site (adgm.com/about and adgm.com/legal-framework) and corroborating public sources as of June 2026. Avyanco Business Consultancy LLC is independent of ADGM, the FSRA, ADGM Courts and the Registration Authority, is not endorsed by any of them, and is not affiliated with any UAE government agency.
FSRA permission categories, capital requirements, ADGM common-law provisions, jurisdiction boundaries and Qualifying Free Zone Person eligibility evolve. Always confirm the current rules for your specific activity directly with the FSRA, the ADGM Registration Authority and the Federal Tax Authority before acting on any fact on this page.
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Speak to an Avyanco partner about an ADGM licence scoped to your business — a regulated financial firm, a fund, a family office, an SPV or a professional-services practice in the capital.
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