Abu Dhabi launches FIDA cluster to drive next-generation finance push

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Abu Dhabi has launched a new fintech, insurance, digital and alternative assets cluster, known as FIDA, aiming to accelerate the development of next-generation financial and investment solutions and strengthen the emirate’s position as a global capital hub.

The initiative, led by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), is part of the emirate’s long-term diversification strategy.

By 2045, officials project FIDA will add $15.2bn to direct GDP, create 8,000 skilled jobs and attract at least $4.6bn in investment.

Key highlights of FIDA

FIDA combines high-growth areas where technology, regulation and capital converge, including fintech, digital assets, insurance, reinsurance and alternative investments. The cluster aims to provide a stable regulatory environment for global firms looking to build and scale new financial products.

“Abu Dhabi’s economic strategy is built on long-term planning and the flow of capital, talent and innovation through world-class infrastructure,” said Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, chairman of ADDED. “FIDA is a structural investment in the future and strengthens the foundations of next-generation finance.”

Badr Al-Olama, DG of ADIO, said the cluster marks a shift in Abu Dhabi’s role in global finance, bringing sovereign investors, regulators and technology firms into a unified ecosystem focused on digital assets, AI-driven financial solutions and advanced fintech platforms.

The programme is structured around pillars covering digital asset infrastructure, fintech development, expanded insurance and reinsurance capacity and long-term savings frameworks designed to support financial resilience. It will also widen access to funding for SMEs, including alternative lending, venture debt and growth capital.

Sustainable finance is built into the cluster’s mandate, with new efforts to develop green and transition finance instruments aligned with the UAE’s net-zero goals. FIDA will also expand the emirate’s alternative assets base, with support for private equity, venture capital and real estate investment vehicles targeting global institutional capital.

The cluster links with other priority sectors, including AGWA for food and water technologies, HELM for life sciences and SAVI for mobility and autonomous systems. This is intended to give high-growth companies access to financing tools tailored to their sector.

Capital of Capital

Abu Dhabi’s position as the “Capital of Capital”, backed by $1.8tn in sovereign wealth and a network of global trade and tax agreements, provides firms in FIDA with treaty-backed access to key markets in Europe, North America and Asia.

Regulatory oversight will be coordinated by the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank of the UAE, ADGM and the Securities and Commodities Authority. Financing will be supported by sovereign wealth funds, family offices and the Khalifa Fund.

The innovation and talent network, led by Hub71, UAE University, Khalifa University, the Emirates Institute of Finance and ADGM Academy, will focus on translating research into market-ready technologies and building specialised skills in fintech, actuarial science and quantitative finance.

Officials say FIDA is intended to reinforce Abu Dhabi’s position as a next-generation global financial centre and as a preferred base for firms shaping the future of finance and investment management.

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