Fintech licensing in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)
In Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), fintech and crypto licences are issued by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA). The Atlas covers 6 licence types there, in 4 families: bank, fund manager, investment firm and virtual asset service provider. Each licence page lists its legal basis, fees and decision period with sources.
Financial regulators in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)
Fintech licences available in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)
Bank / credit institution
Fund manager
Investment firm / broker-dealer
- IF · Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)
Financial Services Permission for Dealing in Investments as Principal (Category 2)
FSRA
- IF · Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)
Financial Services Permission for Dealing in Investments as Agent or Matched Principal (Category 3A)
FSRA
- IF · Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)
Financial Services Permission for Advising on Investments or Arranging Deals in Investments (Category 4)
FSRA
Virtual asset service provider (non-MiCA)
Main laws
- Financial Services and Markets Regulations 2015: Financial Services and Markets Regulations 2015
Path to market
Start by mapping the activities you plan to offer onto the licence types above; the activity pages show which licence permits each one. FSRA offers pre-application meetings, an innovation hub and a regulatory sandbox; the regulator page explains how to use them. The application goes to FSRA, together with the capital, governance and AML documentation the licence page lists.
Getting licensed in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)
Protegra handles licensing in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) end to end: crypto licensing in ADGM.
Need this licence, or a different one?
Tell us your business model and target markets. We check the fit before you spend on an application, then handle the licence end to end.
A free preliminary assessment: we check your business model against the licence before you spend on an application. We handle this licence and any other fintech licence, including jurisdictions the Atlas does not cover yet.