Abu Dhabi Launches FIDA Cluster for Future Finance

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – 

Abu Dhabi has unveiled the FinTech, Insurance, Digital and Alternative Assets (FIDA) cluster—an ambitious initiative designed to accelerate the creation of next-generation financial and investment solutions while strengthening the emirate’s status as a global capital hub.

Developed jointly by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), FIDA serves as a cornerstone of the emirate’s long-term economic diversification strategy. By 2045, the cluster is expected to add USD 15.2 billion to Abu Dhabi’s direct GDP, create 8,000 highly skilled jobs, and attract at least USD 4.6 billion in new investment. These projections underline the emirate’s commitment to building a resilient, innovation-driven financial ecosystem.

FIDA integrates several high-growth sectors—fintech, digital assets, insurance, reinsurance, and alternative investments—bringing together technology, regulatory clarity and deep capital pools within a unified framework. The cluster aims to make Abu Dhabi the preferred jurisdiction for global financial innovators seeking to design, test and scale breakthrough products in a stable and forward-looking regulatory environment.

H.E. Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of ADDED, emphasized that the cluster represents a structural investment in the emirate’s economic future.
He said, “Abu Dhabi’s economic strategy is built on the principle that capital, talent and innovation should flow seamlessly through world-class infrastructure. FIDA strengthens the foundations of next-generation finance and enhances Abu Dhabi’s global role as the Capital of Capital.”

H.E. Badr Al-Olama, Director General of ADIO, highlighted the transformative impact of the initiative, noting that FIDA aligns Abu Dhabi’s regulatory sophistication with advanced digital innovation.
He said, “With regulators, sovereign investors, global institutions and technology leaders operating within a single ecosystem, Abu Dhabi has become the natural home for digital assets, AI-enabled financial solutions and advanced fintech platforms.”

The cluster is built around integrated programme pillars designed to create a globally competitive financial environment. These include:

• Developing institution-grade digital asset infrastructure compliant with international standards.

• Advancing innovative fintech platforms that support both consumer and institutional needs.

• Expanding insurance and reinsurance capacity to meet complex risk management requirements.

• Establishing consumer-protected long-term savings frameworks to enhance financial resilience.

• Broadening SME access to capital through alternative lending, venture debt and growth financing.

Sustainable finance sits at the core of FIDA, with a strong focus on enabling green and transition finance instruments that support Abu Dhabi’s net-zero commitments. The cluster will also strengthen the emirate’s alternative assets landscape—fostering an environment suitable for private equity, venture capital and real estate investment vehicles targeting global institutional investors.

Additionally, FIDA will complement other strategic clusters across key sectors, including the AGWA cluster for food and water innovation, the HELM cluster for life sciences, and the SAVI cluster for smart mobility. This ensures that emerging companies in priority industries can access appropriate financing, de-risk their growth pathways, and scale effectively.

Abu Dhabi’s standing as the “Capital of Capital” is supported by USD 1.8 trillion in sovereign wealth, robust and transparent regulatory frameworks, and a wide network of double-taxation, investment protection and trade agreements. Companies within FIDA enjoy streamlined, treaty-backed access to major global markets across Europe, North America and Asia—an advantage that reinforces the emirate’s leadership in fintech, reinsurance and alternative assets.

The cluster unites a comprehensive network of partners across regulation, capital, infrastructure, innovation and talent development. Regulatory oversight will be jointly managed by the Ministry of Finance, Central Bank of the UAE, Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) to ensure cohesive, future-ready governance.

Funding support will flow from sovereign wealth funds, family offices and the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, offering tailored capital pathways at every growth stage. Meanwhile, national infrastructure institutions in pensions, payments, credit and insurance will enable the delivery of world-class financial services.

Innovation and R&D capabilities will be strengthened through a network led by Hub71, UAE University, Khalifa University, Emirates Institute of Finance and ADGM Academy. This ecosystem will focus on transitioning research into commercial financial technologies and developing specialized talent in actuarial science, quantitative finance, fintech engineering and related fields.

With the launch of FIDA, Abu Dhabi reinforces its position as a pioneering global financial centre and a destination of choice for companies building the future of finance, investment management and digital economic transformation.