- Animoca must meet capital, compliance, and operational requirements before final approval.
- The company already received in-principle approval for a crypto broker license in Dubai in October.
- Animoca’s portfolio spans more than 600 companies across Web3 gaming, infrastructure, and digital rights.
Animoca Brands has secured initial in-principle approval to establish a fund management business in Abu Dhabi, marking a significant step in its regulated expansion strategy.
This move indicates the company’s intent to deepen its presence across the Middle East and to build a structured, compliance-focused foundation to support growing investment activities.
On November 24, Abu Dhabi’s financial services regulator granted in-principle approval, outlining a clear pathway to full authorization once required capital, compliance measures, and operational processes are fulfilled.
The early approval gives Animoca a stronger formal foothold in a region emerging as a hub for digital asset firms.
The company views the UAE as a growing market where a regulated structure can attract both traditional institutional investors and digital-native participants.
With established operations in Dubai, Animoca is aligning its regional strategy to support managed funds and products aimed at institutional investors.
Investment Expansion
With this approval, Animoca Brands moves closer to managing pooled investment funds from within the UAE.
Operating under a regulated framework is important for the business, as it positions the company to support institutional investors.
Animoca already operates across multiple segments of the Web3 economy, offering advisory services and pursuing investments while maintaining a portfolio of over 600 companies spanning games, infrastructure, digital property rights, and tokenization platforms.
A fund manager license would provide a structured operational base for these investments, creating a unified hub for regulated activities across its global network.
It also supports Animoca’s aim to broaden influence in markets where regulatory clarity is rapidly improving.
By basing investment activities in Abu Dhabi, the company is preparing for a future in which compliant digital asset services play a central role in institutional adoption.
Progress on Regional Licenses
Animoca Brands is steadily expanding its regulatory footprint across the Middle East.
In October, the company received in-principle approval from Dubai’s virtual asset regulator for a crypto asset intermediary license, enabling it to offer regulated trading services in that emirate.
The combination of approvals in Abu Dhabi and Dubai signals that Animoca is shaping its regional strategy within recognized regulatory frameworks rather than relying on informal or unregulated operations.
Alongside regulatory progress, Animoca is advancing tokenization initiatives for real-world assets.
Recent projects include a limited partnership fund developed jointly with Hong Kong-listed DL Holdings that builds on-chain vehicles using the XRP Ledger.
The company continues to roll out new programs in education finance, token distribution, and Web3 gaming, expanding its network of projects across a broader ecosystem.
Growing Focus on UAE Digital Assets
The UAE has become a priority destination for firms operating in the digital economy, and Animoca Brands is leveraging this momentum to establish a regulatory presence in the region.
Regulatory clarity, clearer licensing pathways, and increasing interest from global investors make the Middle East a strategic opportunity for companies seeking compliant growth.
Animoca’s recent approvals place the company at the center of this transition, as institutions seek regulated access to digital assets.
Yat Siu, the company’s chairman, is scheduled to speak at the Global Blockchain Show 2025 in Abu Dhabi, underlining Animoca’s role in regional discussions about digital asset development.
The new in-principle approval provides a recognized route for Animoca to expand fund management and investment activities as demand for regulated services continues to grow.