14/10/2026
Most of ADGM’s new financial licences now come from an island that sat outside its jurisdiction until three years ago. So far in 2026, Al Reem accounts for 62% of them.
Economy Middle East looks at what’s behind that shift, and it lets the businesses explain it themselves.
Read the full article if you’re weighing up where to base your business in Abu Dhabi: https://economymiddleeast.com/news/adgms-al-reem-island-redrawing-the-map-of-international-finance/.
Al Reem Island has emerged as a major hub for financial activity in Abu Dhabi, accounting for the majority of new financial licenses issued by Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), three years after the international financial center expanded its jurisdiction to include the island.
Previously known primarily as a residential destination, Al Reem Island is becoming an increasingly important part of Abu Dhabi’s financial ecosystem, complementing Al Maryah Island, where ADGM was originally established, and supporting the emirate’s ambitions as a global financial center.