Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi opened its international financial centre in late October 2015 as a free zone on Al Maryah Island, and in April 2023 extended it to the neighbouring Al Reem Island. English common law applies there directly, alongside the zone's own courts and its own financial regulator.

For a fund manager the draw is a common law base inside the federal capital, with a regulator that grants permissions activity by activity rather than through one blanket licence. The private fund categories rely on private placement to professional clients, and a separate light regime exists for venture managers. Onshore Abu Dhabi sits under the federal capital markets regime instead, so both authorities appear below.