ADGM publishes 2025-2026 Business Plan
ABU DHABI (WAM)The Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of ADGM has published its Business Plan for 2025-2026, outlining the strategic priorities that will emphasise its role as a progressive regulator and one that is already recognised globally. The Plan underscores the FSRA's commitment to supporting the economic ambitions of Abu Dhabi and the UAE more widely.The Business Plan lays out an agenda for the next two years and focuses on key regulatory priorities such as maintaining international regulatory alignment, combatting financial crime, enhancing operational resilience, fostering responsible financial innovation, and advancing sustainable finance. The ongoing initiatives outlined in the plan will build on the hallmarks of the FSRA's existing regulatory framework, namely risk-sensitivity, proportionality, innovation, and stakeholder engagement.The FSRA will continue strengthening its alignment with international regulatory standards by working closely with leading global standard-setting bodies. Preventing financial crime will remain a key priority, with strengthened supervisory, enforcement, and technological capabilities to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, proliferation financing, the financing of unlawful organisations, and sanctions breaches. The FSRA will also reinforce its focus on operational resilience through enhanced regulatory measures targeting cyber threats, supply chain disruptions, fraud, and geopolitical risks.The Business Plan further highlights the FSRA's continued efforts in championing responsible innovation through the development of progressive regulatory frameworks and the expansion of its SupTech and RegTech capabilities. In parallel, it is driving the region's sustainable finance agenda by supporting the issuance of green, climate transition, and sustainability-linked products while updating regulations to incorporate climate-related risk management in line with the UAE's net-zero ambitions and global sustainability standards.Overall, the FSRA's 2025-2026 strategy reaffirms its commitment to continued collaboration with regulated entities, national and international bodies, and industry stakeholders as well as its drive to maintain ADGM's position as a world-class financial centre.
Commenting on the Business Plan, Emmanuel Givanakis, CEO of ADGM's FSRA, said, 'As a progressive and internationally recognised regulator, the FSRA remains committed to strengthening our international standing, upholding market integrity, and fostering sustainable growth. Over the next two years, we will continue to enhance our regulatory framework in line with evolving global best practices, combat financial crime through innovative regulatory and enforcement measures, and advance responsible technological innovation to ensure that ADGM has a secure, well-regulated, and forward-looking financial ecosystem.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
5 hours ago
- Zawya
ADGM's 4th Annual Summer Internship Programme celebrates community and collaboration
Students gained real-world insights at Ma'an and Hub71, building skills and exploring ADGM's financial and regulatory landscape. Abu Dhabi, UAE: ADGM, the international financial centre of Abu Dhabi, together with its knowledge arm ADGM Academy, —has successfully concluded the fourth edition of its Summer Internship Programme, reaffirming its commitment to empowering the nation's youth and contributing to the UAE's long-term development goals. The programme ran from 21st July to 31st July 2025 and ended with a graduation ceremony. The internship was held under the national theme of the 'Year of Community,' announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, reflecting collaboration, shared responsibility, and social cohesion. In line with the spirit of the caption 'Hand in Hand,' this year's programme embraced collective efforts to empower youth and foster meaningful engagement with the wider community. The 2025 edition welcomed over 80 students aged between 12 to 19 years, who engaged in an immersive learning journey. The programme featured professional workshops on AI fundamentals, personal productivity through AI, and the use of AI in investing and finance. Students also benefited from focused mentorship sessions, site visits, and real-world project work. Highlights included visits to the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma'an, where students explored the role of social initiatives in community development and how they can contribute, as well as Hub71, Abu Dhabi's leading tech startup incubator, where they engaged with industry experts and learned from real-world entrepreneurial experiences. The experience equipped participants with practical skills to enhance their daily lives and academic performance, while offering a valuable glimpse into ADGM's dynamic ecosystem and the wider financial and regulatory landscape of Abu Dhabi. The programme was designed to inspire, educate, and build future-ready capabilities among students. Throughout the internship, participants engaged in sessions focused on key themes such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and entrepreneurship. Workshops focused on AI-powered research and decision-making, future foresight, design thinking, and the Future Entrepreneur Permit—delivered in collaboration with ADRA—underscoring Abu Dhabi's commitment to nurturing and empowering the next generation of innovators and leaders. Students also had the opportunity to interact directly with ADGM's leadership and prominent ecosystem stakeholders, fostering meaningful exchanges and building confidence in their future potential. Abdulla Al Suwaidi, Chief Support Services Officer at ADGM and Member of the ADGM Academy Board of Directors, said: 'At ADGM, we view youth empowerment as a vital component of nation-building. This year's Summer Internship Programme, held under the national theme of the 'Year of Community,' has been a powerful demonstration of how collaboration and shared responsibility can shape the leaders of tomorrow. Through a series of impactful initiatives, ADGM continues to reinforce the business ecosystem and invest in a generation that will drive the UAE's ambitions forward, one that is future-ready, community-minded, and inspired to lead with purpose.' Mr Ali Khadem Al Mehairi, Senior Director Enablement, said, ' ADGM Academy, as the knowledge arm of ADGM, is proud to champion initiatives that bridge the gap between today's education and tomorrow's opportunities. Through this year's internship, students explored cutting-edge topics such as AI in finance, entrepreneurship, and future foresight, gaining practical skills that will serve them well in their academic and professional journeys. At ADGM Academy, our goal is to prepare a generation that is not only informed, but capable of shaping the financial and economic landscape of the future.' Since its inception, ADGM's Summer Internship Programme has evolved into a key initiative within the organisation's broader talent development agenda. It has become a reflection of ADGM's and ADGMA enduring commitment to advancing financial literacy, future-readiness, and inclusive growth, while reinforcing Abu Dhabi's position as a knowledge-based economy and centre for innovation. About ADGM ADGM, which opened on 21 October 2015, is the international financial centre (IFC) of the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. ADGM is contributing significantly to Abu Dhabi's position as a leading financial centre and a business hub, serving as a strategic link between the growing economies of the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, and the rest of the world. Operating within a regulatory framework based on the direct application of English Common Law, ADGM governs the entirety of Al Maryah Island and Al Reem Island, collectively designated as the financial free zone of Abu Dhabi. ADGM is a top-ranking IFC in the Middle East and Africa region. Its progressive and inclusive business ecosystem fosters growth, resilience, and optimism for global financial and non-financial institutions. Growing synergies between ADGM and other jurisdictions have positioned it as one of the world's most advanced, diverse, and progressively governed financial hubs. For more details on ADGM, please visit or follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram: @ADGM X: @adglobalmarket About ADGM Academy ADGM Academy (ADGMA) is the knowledge arm of the international financial centre of Abu Dhabi - was established in order to promote the Emirate of Abu Dhabi as a global financial centre, to develop the economy of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and make it an attractive environment for financial investments and an effective contributor to the international financial services industry. ADGMA was established with the vision of becoming one of the region's top educational and Human Resources academies for banking, finance, and public services. In line with the UAE leadership's vision to continue to build a strong and resilient economic sector, we aim to provide our constituents and the community at large with world-class educational and experiential programmes. ADGMA has been at the forefront of financial and digital training programmes, partnering with top industry experts, professional organisations and leading academic institutions to design and deliver programs and produce applied-based research relevant to the financial industry, focusing on future-driven trends.
Al Etihad
a day ago
- Al Etihad
ADGM's fourth summer internship programme champions youth, community and innovation
5 Aug 2025 19:26 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), in collaboration with its knowledge arm ADGM Academy, has successfully concluded the fourth edition of its Summer Internship Programme, reaffirming its commitment to youth empowerment and national development. Held from July 21 to 31, this year's edition is aligned with the UAE's national theme of the 'Year of Community', encouraging collaboration, mentorship, and shared than 80 students aged between 12 and 19 participated in the programme, engaging in a wide range of professional workshops focused on artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation, and entrepreneurship. Highlights included sessions on AI-powered research, future foresight, personal productivity through AI, and the Future Entrepreneur Permit—developed in collaboration with also undertook site visits to the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma'an, where they explored the impact of social initiatives, and to Hub71, Abu Dhabi's flagship tech incubator, where they engaged directly with startup leaders and innovators. These experiences offered real-world insights into Abu Dhabi's financial and regulatory ecosystem and fostered practical skills to support both academic and personal internship was designed to be both educational and inspiring, with a strong focus on building future-ready capabilities. Students interacted with ADGM leadership and prominent ecosystem players, deepening their understanding of finance, innovation, and community Al Suwaidi, Chief Support Services Officer at ADGM and Member of the ADGM Academy Board of Directors, said: 'At ADGM, we view youth empowerment as a vital component of nation-building. This year's Summer Internship Programme, held under the national theme of the 'Year of Community', has been a powerful demonstration of how collaboration and shared responsibility can shape the leaders of tomorrow.' Ali Khadem Al Mehairi, Senior Director Enablement, added: 'Through this year's internship, students explored cutting-edge topics such as AI in finance, entrepreneurship, and future foresight, gaining practical skills that will serve them well in their academic and professional journeys. Our goal is to prepare a generation that is not only informed, but capable of shaping the financial and economic landscape of the future.' Year of Community Continue full coverage Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
Khaleej Times
3 days ago
- Khaleej Times
Rapid advances in AI pose opportunity and risk for startups
Rapid advances in artificial intelligence and blockchain technology are forcing policymakers around the world to catch up. From debates over AI ethics and data privacy to new frameworks for crypto assets, the rules of the game are being written in real time. For startups, this creates both enormous opportunity and significant risk. Get it right, and you might set the global standard. Get it wrong, and you could face costly pivots or worse, regulatory dead ends. 'Sometimes compliance is a moat. Other times, it's just good hygiene. My advice: Assess your risk honestly,' Saksham Kukreja, co-founder of Bitgrit, told Khaleej Times. With years of experience building at the intersection of AI and blockchain, Kukreja has guided his company through complex global regulations and recently led Bitgrit to establish the first licensed entity for tokenizing AI assets under ADGM. Excerpts from an interview: Why has regulatory engagement been a key part of your strategy? Is it required for all startups in emerging tech? For us, regulatory engagement was never optional. Building at the intersection of AI and Web3 means facing questions about data privacy, model ownership, and public trust from day one. Customers want to know their information is safe, developers care about their IP, and token holders want real governance not just promises. That's why at Bitgrit, we chose a path that was slower but more sustainable: we set up a regulated DLT Foundation instead of launching as an unregistered protocol. It was never just about ticking boxes but about proving that there are real standards and accountability behind what we're building. That approach helped us win clients like NASA and SoftBank and attracted over 40,000 AI developers. People want to participate in ecosystems that feel legitimate and durable. But this isn't the only way. If you're building a low-risk SaaS tool or an internal product, you might not need deep regulatory engagement. But the closer your tech comes to people's data, money, or infrastructure, the more essential that engagement becomes. Sometimes compliance is a moat. Other times, it's just good hygiene. My advice: Assess your risk honestly. If the future of your company could hinge on a single policy change, build relationships with regulators early. For us, it was the difference between being a flash in the pan and building something that lasts. With technology evolving so quickly, do you think policymakers can realistically keep up with the pace of innovation in AI and Web3? Honestly, keeping up is nearly impossible. Startups move at sprint speed - we build, ship, and iterate in weeks. Policymakers are marathoners. Their job is to protect the public and keep the rules clear, so they have to pace themselves. The danger is that this inertia can sometimes push entire industries to pack up and leave for friendlier ground. I saw this up close in Bitgrit's early days, when friends in crypto moved their projects to other jurisdictions with clearer rules, sometimes overnight. But not all regulators operate the same. The best don't try to outpace innovation; instead, they set broad, flexible frameworks and invite builders into the conversation. I've had candid discussions with policymakers in several countries, and the ones making real progress are those who bring founders, engineers, even sceptics into the room and ask the tough questions early. As an example, last year Bitgrit was invited to the DLT foundation roundtable at Abu Dhabi Finance Week, where the agenda was less about defending the status quo and more about finding practical ground. That's when regulation works: when it's co-created, not imposed. The fastest path forward isn't expecting policymakers to outpace innovation, but to build open channels so industry and regulators can adapt together. That's how rules get written that actually work on both sides of the table. What has been the biggest regulatory hurdle you've faced as an AI and Web3 founder? How did you overcome it? In 2021, we launched a token out of Japan after months of legal prep, thinking we were finally ready to go global. That confidence vanished almost overnight. The tax rules were so unclear that, if we were to raise $5 million, our liability could have been calculated on the total market cap, which for us meant a tax bill approaching $500 million, on money we didn't even have. It made no practical sense. I remember one meeting where I had to use Monopoly money just to explain to a regulator the difference between 'circulating supply' and 'total supply.' But the guidance didn't change, and we realized we could lose the entire company to a rule that had nothing to do with reality. That's when I knew we had to look elsewhere. The turning point came when we joined Hub71 in Abu Dhabi. Beyond incentives to expand in the middle east, it gave us direct access to ADGM that was much more open to listen to our situation. That partnership ultimately led to Bitgrit becoming the first company in the world to get a license for tokenizing AI assets under a DLT Foundation at ADGM. We're now collaborating with ADGM and Japan's FSA, on a policy research paper to help others avoid the chaos we faced. My advice: If the rules don't make sense, don't wait around hoping they'll change for you. Cut your losses early, learn fast, and find the place where you can actually build. For founders just starting out, what are the most common misconceptions about regulation, and what advice do you wish you had received early on? One big misconception is that regulators are just there to say 'no.' In my experience, engaging early, well before launch, can actually speed things up. We started informal conversations with ADGM months before we shipped anything, and that helped us get feedback, solve issues in advance, and build trust. Good regulators aren't roadblocks; they want innovative companies, as long as you play by the rules. The other trap is underestimating how long compliance really takes. Our legal review for Bitgrit took six months, which was longer than our engineering sprint. Translating AI governance into legal language felt like explaining quantum physics in court, but it paid off. If you're doing something new, plan for it, and don't expect shortcuts. Most importantly, don't treat compliance as a chore. The requirements to add things like audit trails or stronger privacy features ended up making our platform stronger and more appealing to big clients. And never forget where you're regulated matters as much as what you're building. We moved to Abu Dhabi because the rules were clear and the ecosystem was supportive and that choice changed our trajectory. Looking ahead, what policy trends or regulatory shifts do you think will most impact the next generation of AI and Web3 founders? For AI, formal governance is arriving quickly. New laws like the EU's AI Act will require startups to prioritize risk assessments, transparency, and accountability from day one. Standards around data use, explainability, and model audits are about to become the norm. On the Web3 front, regulations are moving toward clearer definitions for digital assets and more unified rules across regions. Legislation such as Europe's MiCA is shaping global standards, and more countries are experimenting with frameworks for DAOs and tokenized assets. Another important shift is increased international cooperation, with regulators now sharing best practices and sometimes collaborating on cross-border pilot projects. For founders, this means higher expectations for transparency and ethics, but also more clarity and consistency. The next generation of startups will need to adapt quickly, stay informed, and be proactive in engaging with policymakers. Those who lean into the policy conversation will be best positioned to shape and succeed in the future landscape.
