Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi Global Market: real costs, licences and review
Abu Dhabi's common-law financial centre — the serious rival to DIFC.
Our view
ADGM applies English common law directly, which is a genuine distinction: rather than drafting its own code as DIFC did, it adopted English law wholesale. For international counterparties and lawyers that removes a layer of uncertainty.
It has moved faster than DIFC on digital assets and has become the preferred UAE jurisdiction for crypto funds, custodians and exchanges that want real regulatory standing rather than a permissive licence. Its foundation and SPV regimes are also widely used for family wealth and holding structures, and the SPV route is considerably cheaper and faster than people expect from a financial centre.
For most readers of these sites, ADGM is relevant as a holding or family-office jurisdiction, or as the honest destination for a regulated digital-asset business.
Key facts
| Emirate | Abu Dhabi |
|---|---|
| Licence from | AED 21,300 |
| Typical cost (1 visa) | AED 110,000 |
| Issuance time | 20–90 working days |
| Visa quota | Unlimited (with office) |
| Flexi-desk | No |
| Remote setup | No |
| Licence types | Financial services, Holding, Professional / service, Digital assets |
| Established | 2013 |
Official source: www.adgm.com
Honestly
What works
- English common law applied directly
- Leading UAE framework for digital assets
- Cost-effective SPV and foundation regimes
- Independent courts and regulator
What doesn't
- Regulated licences take months and real capital
- In Abu Dhabi, not Dubai
- Office required on Al Maryah Island
- Overkill for trading or consulting
Who this suits
- Regulated digital-asset businesses
- Family offices and foundations
- SPVs and holding structures
- Fund managers
Let's talk about your actual case
A twenty-minute call. We will also tell you if the UAE is the wrong answer for you — it often is.