The 17 UAE laws, decisions and regulations on adgm in the Polaris Legal Library, each summarised from the official text with status, key provisions and penalties.
ADGM Commercial Licensing Regulations (Controlled Activities) Rules 2025
Published by the Registration Authority on 16 October 2025 with the Conditions of Licence and Branch Registration Rules 2025(A); the Rules re-define ADGM's controlled activities, add a new controlled activity for tax services, set application requirements for legal and tax service licences and require licensed company service providers to adopt conflicts-of-interest policies, replacing the earlier Controlled Activities Rules.
ADGM Registration Authority – Overview of Fees 2025 (Schedule of Fees)
January 2025 schedule consolidating the US-dollar fees the Registration Authority charges under its fees rules for entity registration, commercial licences and renewals, annual filings, data-protection registration and post-incorporation services, for example a USD 17,000 initial registration total for Category A standard entities and a USD 200 commercial licence fee.
ADGM Employment Regulations 2024
Replaces the Employment Regulations 2019 from 1 April 2025 for ADGM-registered employers and their employees, who are exempt from the federal Labour Law; supported by the Employment Regulations (Temporary Work Permit) Rules 2024 and the Employment Regulations (Fees) Rules 2024. The full text is published in the ADGM rulebook hosted by Thomson Reuters.
ADGM Beneficial Ownership and Control Regulations 2022 (consolidated April 2026)
Enacted 14 December 2022 to replace the 2018 regulations, they define a beneficial owner as a natural person owning or controlling 25% or more of an ADGM entity or otherwise controlling it, require every ADGM entity (other than foreign branches) to keep a beneficial-ownership record and file it with the Registrar's central register; amended six times to April 2026.
ADGM Insolvency Regulations 2022
The 2022 insolvency framework for ADGM companies, modelled on English insolvency law: administration, company voluntary arrangements, receivership, members' and creditors' voluntary liquidation and compulsory winding up, with a licensing regime for insolvency practitioners under the Insolvency Regulations (Insolvency Practitioner) Rules 2022 and related fees rules.
ADGM Data Protection Regulations 2021
GDPR-style regime administered by the ADGM Office of Data Protection: data-protection principles, individual rights, controller and processor duties, data protection officers for certain entities, breach notification and a registration requirement for every ADGM entity that processes personal data, renewed annually. Replaced the 2015 regulations with transition periods for existing entities.
ADGM Companies Regulations 2020 (Consolidated Version)
Enacted 29 April 2020 under Article 6(1) of Abu Dhabi Law No. 4 of 2013, replacing the 2015 regulations: private and public companies, restricted scope companies, directors, shares, accounts and audit, confirmation statements, strike-off and the Registrar's powers. Later amendments require, from 12 July 2021, that non-exempt special purpose companies appoint a licensed Company Service Provider (section 296A).
ADGM Foundations Regulations 2017
Enacted 14 August 2017 under Article 6(1) of Abu Dhabi Law No. 4 of 2013, the Regulations create the ADGM foundation with any lawful non-charitable objects, a council of at least two councillors, a guardian where no founder survives, and continuance of foreign foundations; later amendments require non-exempt foundations to appoint a licensed Company Service Provider (section 18).
ADGM Trusts (Special Provisions) Regulations 2016
Supplements the English law of trusts applied in ADGM through the Application of English Law Regulations 2015 with ADGM-specific provisions, including protection of ADGM-law trusts and dispositions into trust against challenge under foreign forced-heirship or similar rules. The full text is published in the ADGM rulebook hosted by Thomson Reuters.
ADGM Application of English Law Regulations 2015
The regulation that applies English common law, including the rules of equity, directly in ADGM as it stands from time to time, and makes a schedule of English civil statutes applicable in the zone, subject to ADGM's own regulations. The consolidated text is published in the ADGM rulebook hosted by Thomson Reuters.
ADGM Commercial Licensing Regulations 2015
Requires every person carrying on business in or from ADGM to hold a commercial licence from the Registration Authority, defines controlled activities that need specific permission, and empowers the Board to make subordinate rules on controlled activities, licence conditions, client money and fees. The consolidated text is published in the ADGM rulebook hosted by Thomson Reuters.
ADGM Courts, Civil Evidence, Judgments, Enforcement and Judicial Appointments Regulations 2015
Enacted 17 December 2015 under Article 6(1) of Abu Dhabi Law No. 4 of 2013, the Regulations constitute the ADGM Court of First Instance and Court of Appeal, define their jurisdiction (extended in 2023 to Al Reem Island), govern judicial appointments, civil evidence and the enforcement of judgments and orders; amended most recently on 17 October 2025.
ADGM Financial Services and Markets Regulations 2015 (FSMR)
ADGM's primary financial-services statute, modelled on the UK Financial Services and Markets Act 2000: it sets the powers, functions and objectives of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority, the general prohibition on regulated activities without authorisation, market abuse and enforcement, supplemented by the FSRA Rulebooks. Headline record only; the text is in the Thomson Reuters-hosted ADGM rulebook.
Abu Dhabi Law No. 4 of 2013 Concerning Abu Dhabi Global Market
Establishes the Abu Dhabi Global Market as an independent financial free zone governed by a Board of Directors, creates its three authorities (Registration Authority, Financial Services Regulatory Authority and ADGM Courts) and provides that activities inside ADGM are governed by this law and the ADGM Regulations, with Emirate laws generally not applying. Amended by Law No. 12 of 2020.
Federal Decree No. 15 of 2013 Concerning Establishing a Financial Free Zone in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi
Two-article federal decree establishing a financial free zone in Abu Dhabi under the name Abu Dhabi Global Market pursuant to Federal Law No. 8 of 2004, effective on issuance.
Cabinet Resolution No. 28 of 2007 on the Implementing Regulations of Federal Law No. 8 of 2004 Concerning Financial Free Zones
Ten-article implementing regulation setting how financial free zones are established, which banking, insurance, securities and market activities they may host, licensing conditions, limits on dealing with the UAE domestic market, and the zones' reporting and cooperation duties towards federal authorities.
Federal Law No. 8 of 2004 Regarding the Financial Free Zones
Ten-article federal law allowing a financial free zone to be created in any Emirate by Federal Decree as a body corporate; the zones and their licensed activities are exempt from federal civil and commercial laws but remain subject to federal criminal and anti-money-laundering legislation.
Whether you are establishing a new venture, restructuring an existing enterprise, or exploring residency pathways — we are here to advise.
Arrange a Consultation →