Abu Dhabi has landed another global asset manager. Capital Group, which manages about US$3.6 trillion, has secured a Financial Services Permission from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of ADGM, letting it operate as a regulated investment manager in the emirate’s international financial centre, the firm announced on October 7 via PR Newswire.
The licence covers trading, investment management and distribution activities within ADGM.
From announcement in May to a regulated office
The approval is the second step of a plan set out in May 2026, when Capital Group said it would open its first Middle East office in Abu Dhabi. Since then it has relocated associates from North America, Europe and Asia, covering investment, operational and client-facing roles, and says the local team is expected to grow with business and client needs, as the syndicated release also notes.
Why firms keep choosing ADGM
ADGM, on Al Maryah Island, has become the default landing zone for international finance firms entering the Gulf, thanks to its English common-law framework and direct regulator access. Each new licence adds depth to the ecosystem of funds, family offices and advisers that business travellers now meet on a single Abu Dhabi trip.
What the licence allows the office to do
The Financial Services Permission is the piece that turns a representative presence into a working investment office. With it, Capital Group can conduct regulated trading, investment management and distribution activities from ADGM rather than servicing Middle East clients entirely from London, Singapore or the United States. The firm says its Abu Dhabi team starts with investment, operational and client-facing staff on the ground from day one, a model it compares to opening its Singapore office in 1989.
Pairing a business trip with the capital
If work brings you to Al Maryah Island, the Abu Dhabi day trip from Dubai guide covers the Corniche and cultural stops nearby, our business stay areas in Dubai page helps split time between the two cities, and where to stay in Dubai rounds up hotel districts for the return leg.
FAQs
What licence has Capital Group received?
A Financial Services Permission from ADGM’s FSRA, authorising trading, investment management and distribution activities within ADGM.
How large is Capital Group?
It is one of the world’s largest active investment managers, with about US$3.6 trillion in assets under management.
Is this its first Middle East office?
Yes. The Abu Dhabi office, first announced in May 2026, is the firm’s first in the region.
Who leads the Abu Dhabi office?
Benno Klingenberg-Timm, who is also Head of Institutional for Europe and Asia.
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