The firm has received its in-principle approval for advisory and arranging services in the ADGM – subject to regulatory approval from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of ADGM.

Along with a raft of other wealth managers and banks which have established a presence in the region, the new office in Abu Dhabi is testament to iCapital’s commitment to the United Arab Emirates and the wider Middle East, the firm said in a statement. The new location will also strengthen its ability to deliver private market solutions to banks, wealth managers, and family offices across the Gulf region.

In the last quarter of 2025 alone, for example, Julius Baer, KKR and Union Bancaire Privée have extended their presence in the Gulf region. See more coverage here, here and here.

“We welcome iCapital to ADGM, as it establishes its first office in the Middle East. Their decision to establish a presence here reflects the confidence global firms place in our robust regulatory framework and vibrant financial ecosystem,” Arvind Ramamurthy, chief market development officer at ADGM, said. “With strong connectivity to international investors and a collaborative community, ADGM offers an ideal platform for firms driving innovation in private markets. We look forward to iCapital’s contribution to Abu Dhabi’s growing asset and wealth management landscape.”

“The opening of our new office in Abu Dhabi marks a significant milestone in our global expansion strategy and reinforces our long-term commitment to the GCC,” Marco Bizzozero, head of international and a member of the executive committee at iCapital, said. “The region is one of the world’s fastest growing wealth markets with an increasing demand for private markets, and we are proud to support local banks, wealth managers, and their clients with a comprehensive suite of private market investment solutions. Having a local presence strengthens our role as a trusted partner, underscores our ambition to develop and deepen relationships, and allows us to be closer to where our clients are.”

The new office will also strengthen iCapital’s strategic partnership with MPW Capital Advisors, a licensed and regulated financial services firm headquartered in Abu Dhabi. It will add to iCapital’s global network of 17 locations, marking the firm’s 10th office outside the US alongside Zurich, London, Edinburgh, Lisbon, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Tokyo.

iCapital has more than $270 billion in global platform assets. The ascent of iCapital and rivals such as Moonfare and CAIS is part of a wider story of changing access to private market investments, hedge funds and other parts of the alternative investment space. In the past, the access channel tend to be dominated by investment banks, but that began to change after the 2008 financial crisis.