The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of ADGM today co-hosted a high-level roundtable in Hong Kong to discuss opportunities for Hong Kong asset managers within ADGM (Note 1).
More than 20 senior executives of Hong Kong asset managers participated in the roundtable, which was led by the SFC’s Chief Executive Officer, Ms Julia Leung, and ADGM FSRA’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Emmanuel Givanakis. The event was also attended by SFC’s Executive Director of Investment Products, Ms Christina Choi, and ADGM FSRA’s Executive Director, International Affairs, Mr Philippe Richard.
Discussions addressed a range of topics including opportunities for Hong Kong asset managers to access investors in ADGM and in the wider United Arab Emirates (UAE) through the UAE fund passporting regime.
“Today’s dialogue builds on the foundation laid by the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with ADGM’s FSRA earlier this year in May and underscores our ongoing effort to explore further connectivity. By bringing together industry leaders and regulators, we are advancing collaboration to facilitate Hong Kong’s asset managers in accessing the UAE market,” said Ms Leung (Note 2).
Mr Givanakis said, “We are delighted to engage with the SFC in this constructive high-level roundtable, which provided a valuable platform to explore emerging opportunities in the asset management sector. As the leading asset management hub in the region, ADGM is committed to fostering innovation, strengthening investor confidence, and unlocking sustainable growth. We look forward to building on today’s discussions to further enhance the competitiveness and resilience of our financial ecosystem.”
At a subsequent industry seminar, the FSRA of ADGM provided insights into regulatory requirements for cross-border fund distributions for asset managers. More than 30 representatives from the city’s asset management industry attended the seminar.
Notes:
1. 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.
2. Please see the SFC’s press release on 15 May 2025 on the signing of the MoU between the SFC and ADGM FSRA to enhance cooperation on supervision of investment managers of collective investment schemes based in either market.
