A 57% increase in assets under management in a quarter affected by regional conflict is not business-as-usual growth — it reflects a structural decision by the world’s largest capital allocators.
Abu Dhabi Global Market posted a 57% year-on-year increase in assets under management in the first quarter of 2026, with 13,353 active licences, 961 new licences issued during the three-month period, and a workforce now totalling 47,044 — up 44% on the year. The financial centre disclosed the figures on 18 May, alongside the names of major new entrants: Man Group, the world’s largest listed hedge fund; Barings, which manages $418 billion globally; Bain Capital ($215 billion); and Capital Group ($3.3 trillion), which joined last week. New managers establishing an ADGM presence in Q1 collectively managed $4.4 trillion in global assets.
The number of asset and fund managers on-platform rose 24% to 179, while funds managed from ADGM increased 43% to 263. Operational entities — meaning businesses with staff and operations, not just registered shells — grew 34.5% on an annual basis to 3,741.
Why the World’s Largest Managers Are Choosing ADGM
ADGM Chairman Ahmed Al Zaabi attributed the performance to “the scale, pace and growing global relevance of Abu Dhabi’s financial ecosystem,” noting that the figures demonstrated “sustained investor confidence despite regional volatility.” The framework explanation sits alongside a structural one: the world’s largest asset managers are in Abu Dhabi because that is where the capital is.
