A complete guide to the ADGM license plate query process

1. What is ADGM?

Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) is one of the UAE's international financial centers. Established in 2013, it is located on Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi. ADGM independently applies English common law and has an independent Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) .

📌 Key Features

• Legal system : adopts a legal framework based on English common law;

• Regulator : FSRA is responsible for the licensing and supervision of all financial services activities;

• International positioning : Along with Dubai's DFSA, it is one of the two core international financial regulatory centers in the Middle East;

• Cross-border appeal : Many international securities firms and asset management companies choose to register in ADGM because of its high legal transparency, which helps attract global investors.

2. Why do you need to check the ADGM license?

1. Confirm whether the platform is authorized by FSRA ;

2. Avoid fake platforms pretending to be “ADGM regulated”;

3. Understand its financial services categories (such as foreign exchange, derivatives, asset management).

📌 Official website:

• 🔗 ADGM FSRA Public Register

• 🔗 ADGM Warnings & Alerts

3. Quick Verification Process (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Enter the ADGM FSRA Public Registry

👉 FSRA Public Register

• Search for company name or license number.

Step 2: Confirm the authorization status

• Firm Name

• Licence Status : must be Active ;

• Regulated Activities : Such as "Dealing in Investments as Principal/Agent", "Asset Management", "Advising on Investments".

Step 3: Verify company information

• The company's registered name is consistent with the official website;

• Whether the address and contact information match;

• Confirm that the license type covers the business it advertises (such as Forex/CFDs).

Step 4: Check ADGM warnings/enforcement advisories

👉 FSRA Enforcement Notices

• Search for a company or person;

• If it appears in an enforcement notice → It is a violation or unauthorized operation.

Step 5 (Optional): Cross-Verify International Licenses

• Many ADGM registered companies are also licensed by FCA, ASIC and other jurisdictions, which can further verify their global compliance.

4. Practical Cases

✅ Compliant example: Saxo Bank (Abu Dhabi Branch)

• Company Name : Saxo Bank A/S (Abu Dhabi Global Market Branch)

• Status : Active

• Business scope : foreign exchange, CFDs, investment management

• Official website : 🔗 Saxo Bank

• Result : Compliant✅

❌ Risk Example: Platforms pretending to be “ADGM regulated”

• Example : Some overseas companies claim to be “regulated by Abu Dhabi Global Market”, but no records are found.

• Evidence : Warning list published by ADGM → does not appear in Public Register.

• Result : Unauthorized → High Risk ❌

5. Common Misconceptions

1. Mistakenly believing that “UAE company registration” = regulated by ADGM → registered company ≠ financial services license;

2. Only look at the license number advertised by the company → must cross FSRA public registry;

3. Ignore enforcement announcements → FSRA regularly publishes examples of companies that have violated regulations and the penalties they have imposed.

6. Investor Recommendations

• Must check FSRA Public Register + Enforcement Notices ;

• Three elements: company name + status + regulatory business;

• Companies that do not appear in the FSRA system are all high risk;

• For cross-border companies, it is recommended to check FCA/ASIC/CySEC licenses at the same time.

VII. Conclusion

ADGM is one of the UAE's international financial regulatory centers, alongside the DFSA.

• Compliant companies can find complete information on the FSRA registry;

• Illegal companies are often warned or named.

Investors must strictly follow the Step 1 – Step 5 verification process to effectively avoid false advertising and high-risk platforms.