Franklin Templeton Secures Onshore Abu Dhabi License from UAE CMA
Franklin Templeton has obtained operating licenses from the UAE Capital Market Authority (CMA) for its new entity in Abu Dhabi, giving the global asset manager permission to operate onshore in the capital.
The approval marks a further expansion of Franklin Templeton’s footprint in the United Arab Emirates and means the firm now has a presence across all three of the country’s key financial jurisdictions: Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), and the mainland Abu Dhabi market regulated by the CMA.
According to the company, it is the first global asset manager to operate across all three regulatory environments in the UAE. Franklin Templeton has been active in the country for more than 25 years, and the new license is intended to support the firm’s broader efforts to deepen its local investment offering.
The Abu Dhabi entity will focus on expanding investment services for clients in the UAE, with an emphasis on products and solutions tailored to local needs. The company highlighted retirement savings products and end-of-service solutions as key areas of development.
Matthew Harrison, Head of EMEA and Americas ex-US at Franklin Templeton, said the UAE has become an increasingly important market for global asset managers, while stressing that long-term success depends on proximity to clients and alignment with local priorities.
Sandeep Singh, Head of CEEMEA and Head of Global Official Institutions at Franklin Templeton, said the firm’s presence across all three financial jurisdictions positions it to serve clients throughout the UAE’s main regulatory environments. He added that the company aims to apply its global investment expertise to areas that matter locally, including tailored wealth and retirement solutions.
The move reflects the growing importance of the UAE as a regional hub for wealth management and institutional investment. By securing onshore access in Abu Dhabi alongside its existing operations in ADGM and DIFC, Franklin Templeton is broadening its reach across one of the Middle East’s most active financial markets.
Industry Analysis
Franklin Templeton’s latest license underscores the competitive value of regulatory coverage in the UAE, where financial firms often seek presence across multiple jurisdictions to serve different client segments more effectively. The ability to operate in Abu Dhabi onshore, as well as in ADGM and DIFC, may help the firm offer more localized solutions and strengthen client relationships in a market that continues to attract international asset managers.
The emphasis on retirement savings and end-of-service products also points to rising demand for wealth and long-term financial planning solutions in the UAE. For the wider asset management industry, this development suggests that firms with a strong local operating structure and tailored product strategy may be better positioned to capture growth in the market.
