Animoca Brands secures fund management approval in Abu Dhabi

Animoca Brands gains in-principle approval for a fund management business in Abu Dhabi, boosting its regulated operations in the UAE digital asset sector.

Animoca Brands has received in-principle approval from Abu Dhabi’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority to establish a fund management business in the emirate, the company announced.

The approval, granted on November 24, allows the Hong Kong-based digital asset firm to proceed toward full licensing once it meets required capital, compliance, and operational conditions, according to the regulatory authority.

The license would enable Animoca Brands to manage collective investment funds from within the United Arab Emirates under a regulated framework. The company maintains a portfolio of more than 600 investments across web3 gaming, infrastructure, digital property rights, and tokenized platforms, according to company disclosures.

The Abu Dhabi approval follows Animoca ‘s receipt of in-principle approval in October for a crypto brokerage license from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority. That license would permit the firm to offer regulated trading services in Dubai.

Animoca Brands in the Middle East

Animoca Brands has been expanding its presence in the Middle East as the region develops regulatory frameworks for digital assets. The UAE has introduced licensing pathways for cryptocurrency and blockchain companies in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

The company is also developing tokenization projects involving real-world assets. One initiative involves a limited partnership fund created with Hong Kong-listed DL Holdings using the XRP Ledger blockchain platform, according to company statements.

Animoca’s chairman, Yat Siu, is scheduled to speak at the Global Blockchain Show 2025 in Abu Dhabi, event organizers confirmed.

The firm operates across multiple segments of the digital economy, including advisory services, investment activities, and web3 gaming platforms. The fund management license would provide a regulatory structure for institutional investment activities in the region, according to the company.

Abu Dhabi and Dubai have emerged as destinations for digital asset companies seeking regulated operating environments. Multiple cryptocurrency exchanges, blockchain firms, and digital asset managers have established operations in the UAE in recent years as the country has developed its regulatory framework for the sector.