Abu Dhabi Global Market's Financial Services Regulatory Authority has introduced lighter-touch regulatory regimes for lower-risk fund managers to reduce capital and compliance burdens. The reforms establish three distinct categories—sub-threshold, venture capital, and institutional—exempting all three from requirements to appoint a finance officer or maintain an internal audit function. Qualifying managers also benefit from reduced capital requirements and fee or insurance concessions.
Google is updating its financial advertising policy for campaigns targeting users in the United Arab Emirates starting 21 October. Advertisers promoting crypto exchanges, software wallets, contracts for difference, and rolling spot forex must hold recognised UAE regulatory licences and obtain separate Google certification. The update broadens recognised crypto regulators to include the Capital Market Authority and Dubai Financial Services Authority, while updating forex rules to reflect the Capital Market Authority as successor to the Securities and Commodities Authority.
Digital asset manager 3iQ announced that its subsidiary 3iQ Middle East Ltd has secured in-principle approval for a Category 4 license from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Abu Dhabi Global Market. The regulatory milestone follows a partnership with UAE-based Further to connect institutional investors via 3iQ's Managed Account Platform. Final operational permissions remain subject to meeting additional regulatory conditions set by ADGM.
Global asset management firm Capital Group has secured a financial services licence from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Abu Dhabi Global Market. The licence authorizes the firm to conduct regulated investment management, trading, and fund distribution within the financial free zone. According to ADGM, asset managers setting up in the hub during the first half of 2026 collectively managed over $2.1 trillion.
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