Is Al Reem Island Part of ADGM? (Yes — Here's What That Means)

We still meet founders who ask it warily, as if there might be a catch: "But is Al Reem really part of ADGM?" Yes — fully, and since 24 April 2023. If you've heard otherwise, you're working from information that predates the change, and that outdated belief tends to push people into paying a premium they never needed to.

How Al Reem joined ADGM

UAE Cabinet Resolution No. 41 of 2023 extended ADGM's geographical jurisdiction to Al Reem Island, effective 24 April 2023. From that date, ADGM's legal and regulatory frameworks applied on Al Reem and the ADGM Courts gained jurisdiction over matters there. A transitional period ran to the end of 2024 so businesses already operating on the island could migrate onto ADGM licences in an orderly way — and more than 1,100 entities came into the jurisdiction through that integration.

What "part of ADGM" actually means

This is not a neighbouring zone or a marketing label. A company registered on Al Reem gets:

• the same ADGM licence from the same Registration Authority;
• governance under English common law, applied directly;
• FSRA supervision, where the activity is regulated;
• recourse to the same ADGM Courts.

The address on the licence reads as an ADGM address because that is precisely what it is.

Two misconceptions worth clearing up

"An Al Reem address looks less official to a bank." It doesn't — banks and the FSRA treat it as ADGM, because it is. "Al Reem is its own free zone." It isn't — it's the expanded part of one jurisdiction, sharing a single rulebook with Al Maryah.

Why it matters for your decision

Because the legal status is identical, choosing an island becomes a practical, financial decision rather than a regulatory one — and on cost, Al Reem wins clearly. A dedicated desk that satisfies the ADGM office requirement is around AED 1,200 a month with us, versus roughly AED 3,500 on Al Maryah. Same licence, same protection, a fraction of the rent.

Next: the full Al Reem vs Al Maryah comparison and the case for Al Reem in 2026.

Talk to MY Coworking

Set up a full ADGM entity on Al Reem — compliant registered address plus a real desk from AED 1,200/month. We are based here and handle the whole thing.

We're on Al Reem Island — 2312 Addax Tower, City of Lights, Abu Dhabi. Email contact@mycoworking.ae to book a tour or get a same-day quote.