ADGM Courts

Last reviewed: 2026-06-27

What are the ADGM Courts?

The ADGM Courts are the independent common-law courts of Abu Dhabi Global Market, a financial free zone established in 2015. English common law applies directly in ADGM, and the courts hear civil and commercial matters connected to the zone, publishing their judgments.

ADGM and the DIFC are the UAE’s two common-law financial free zones; each has its own courts, regulator and public judgment record, distinct from the onshore court systems of the emirates.

When screening an ADGM-registered entity, its litigation history sits in the ADGM record rather than the onshore courts — which is why coverage has to be jurisdiction-aware.