---
title: "ADGM — Class A Atlas glossary"
description: "Abu Dhabi Global Market — English-common-law free zone."
canonical: https://classa.info/glossary/adgm
pageType: glossary
lastUpdated: 2026-04-01T00:00:00.000Z
license: "CC BY 4.0 with attribution to Class A Atlas (https://classa.info)."
---

> Abu Dhabi Global Market — English-common-law free zone.

## TL;DR

- Abu Dhabi Global Market — English-common-law free zone.
- Abu Dhabi's financial free zone, equivalent in legal architecture to Dubai's DIFC.

# ADGM

*Tax / regulatory · EU*

## Short definition

Abu Dhabi Global Market — English-common-law free zone.

## Full definition

Abu Dhabi's financial free zone, equivalent in legal architecture to Dubai's [DIFC](/glossary/difc). English common law, independent regulator (FSRA), separate court system.

## Why this matters for Class A leasing

ADGM is part of the tax / regulatory vocabulary that institutional [Class A](/glossary/class-a) occupiers, landlords, and advisers use across EU markets. Understanding it correctly affects how you read lease documents, model occupancy economics, and benchmark deal terms across cities. Class A Atlas tracks the EU definition alongside the global standard so [cross-border](/topics/cross-border-expansion) occupiers can translate quickly.

## See also

- [DIFC](/glossary/difc)

---

Citation: Source: Class A Atlas (https://classa.info/glossary/adgm), updated 2026-04-01T00:00:00.000Z.