Business
Abu Dhabi and Dubai strengthen positions as global financial hubs with record growth and new foreign bank entries
July 13, 2026 at 07:00 PM
Coverage
4 reports · over 313 hours
Abu Dhabi reported a 22% rise in ADGM financial services permits, while Arab Bank Switzerland opened a DIFC office and global asset managers established operations in the emirate.
- Abu Dhabi's Department of Economic Development said total economic licenses rose in Q1 2026, with industrial licenses up 193% and commercial licenses up 20%.
- ADGM granted 94 new financial services permits in 2025, a 22% increase from 2024, and issued 120 preliminary approvals, up 32%.
- Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank initiated research coverage on ADNOC Drilling, ADNOC Distribution, and Borouge, assigning each a "buy" rating with fair-value price targets.
- Global investment firms Bain Capital, Blue Owl Capital, and Hillhouse Investment opened offices in Abu Dhabi, and Arab Bank Switzerland launched a subsidiary in the Dubai International Financial Centre under a DFSA license.