Financial Services Permission for Accepting Deposits (Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM))
The Financial Services Permission for Accepting Deposits (Category 1 Commercial Bank) is issued by Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) under FSRA Prudential: Investment, Insurance Intermediation and Banking Rulebook (PRU). The official register lists 8 current holders. The legal decision period is Within a reasonable time from submission of a complete application. The application fee is USD 70,000. Ownership changes need the regulator's approval before completion.
At a glance
| Official name | Financial Services Permission for Accepting Deposits (Category 1 Commercial Bank)1 |
|---|---|
| Also known as | ADGM bank licence · ADGM banking licence · FSRA bank licence · ADGM Category 1 bank · FSP for Accepting Deposits · Abu Dhabi Global Market commercial bank licence |
| Issued by | Financial Services Regulatory Authority |
| Jurisdiction | Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) |
| Licence family | Bank / credit institution |
| Legal basis | FSRA Prudential: Investment, Insurance Intermediation and Banking Rulebook (PRU)2 |
| Passporting | Domestic only |
| Application fee | USD 70,0001 |
| Annual fee | USD 100,0001 |
| Statutory decision time | Within a reasonable time from submission of a complete application3 |
| Public register | official register4 |
| Current holders | 84 |
What it lets you do
| Taking deposits from the public | Accepting deposits or other repayable funds from the public, the activity reserved to credit institutions. |
|---|---|
| Lending | Granting loans, including consumer credit, mortgage credit, factoring and financing of commercial transactions. |
| Execution of payment transactions | Executing direct debits, card payments and credit transfers, including standing orders, from a payment account. |
Where it is valid
Cost
Buying a company that already holds it
Prior approval required. Under FSMR section 105 and GEN 8.8, prior written approval from the FSRA is required before a person becomes a controller or increases control across 20%, 30%, or 50% thresholds. A controller is defined as holding 10% or more of voting rights or capital, or exercising significant influence. The statutory determination period is 90 days from receipt of a complete notice, accompanied by a USD 1,000 application fee.5
Bank in other countries
| Country | Licence | Regulator | Min. capital | Application fee | Statutory time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) | Financial Services Permission for Accepting DepositsFinancial Services Permission for Accepting Deposits (Category 1 Commercial Bank) | FSRA | n/a | USD 70,000 | n/a |
| Bermuda | Banking Licence / Deposit Company Licence / Restricted Banking LicenceBanking Licence / Deposit Company Licence / Restricted Banking Licence (Banks and Deposit Companies Act 1999) | BMA | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Cayman Islands | Bank LicenceBank Licence (Category A and Category B) under the Banks and Trust Companies Act | CIMA | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Czech Republic | Commercial Bank licence | CNB | n/a | CZK 200,000 | n/a |
| Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) | Bank licenceFinancial Services Permission for Accepting Deposits or Providing Credit (Category 1 Commercial Bank) | DFSA | n/a | USD 70,000 | n/a |
| Estonia | Credit institution authorisation (bank) | FI | n/a | EUR 5,000 | ~6 mo |
| Georgia | Commercial bank licence | NBG | n/a | n/a | ~6 mo |
| Germany | CRR) | BaFin | n/a | n/a | ~6 mo |
| Ireland | Banking LicenceBanking Licence (Section 9 Central Bank Act 1971) | CBI | n/a | n/a | ~6 mo |
| Latvia | Credit institution licence (bank) | LB | n/a | n/a | 4-13 mo |
| Lithuania | Specialised bank licence | LB | n/a | EUR 4,157 | ~6 mo |
| Lithuania | Bank licence | LB | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Luxembourg | Credit institution authorisation | CSSF | n/a | EUR 75,000 | ~6 mo |
| Malta | Credit institution licence | MFSA | n/a | EUR 35,000 | ~6 mo |
| Netherlands | Bank licenceBank licence (Vergunning bank / kredietinstelling) | DNB | n/a | EUR 44,300 | ~6 mo |
| Poland | Commercial Bank licence | KNF | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Singapore | Banking LicenceBanking Licence (Full Bank, Wholesale Bank, Digital Bank) | MAS | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Slovakia | Banking licence | NBS | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Spain | Commercial bank licence | BdE | n/a | n/a | ~6 mo |
| Switzerland | FinTech licence (PersonsFinTech licence (Persons pursuant to Article 1b Banking Act | FINMA | n/a | CHF 100 | n/a |
| Switzerland | Banking licence | FINMA | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| United Arab Emirates | Commercial Bank Licence | CBUAE | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Values come from each licence's page, where every figure has its source.
Sources
- ADGM FSRA Rulebook: 7538 · retrieved 2026-09-24
- ADGM FSRA Rulebook: prudential investment insurance intermediation and banking r · retrieved 2026-09-24
- ADGM FSRA Rulebook: 12521 · retrieved 2026-09-24
- adgm.com: firms · retrieved 2026-09-24
- ADGM FSRA Rulebook: 7993 · retrieved 2026-09-24
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