EDB Establishes Investment Bridge in ADGM (UAE) Between Gulf Capital and Central Asian Projects

ABU DHABI, 10 December2025 - The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) is preparing an investment platform for investors from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to access promising projects in Central Asia. As a key step toward this goal the EDB opened the bank's representative office in ADGM, the international financial center of Abu Dhabi, the Capital of the United Arab Emirates. The inauguration ceremony was honoured with the participation of Salem Al Darei , CEO of ADGM Authority, and Nikolai Podguzov, the Chairman of the Management Board of the Eurasian Development Bank.

The new platform will offer GCC investors ready-made investment solutions based on the EDB's analytics and regional expertise, strong relationships with the governments of the Bank's member states, and access to projects focused on enhancing risk-adjusted returns. Through the platform, investors will be able to participate in financing infrastructure and sustainable projects in the Eurasian region.

"We are creating an 'investment highway' between Gulf capital and the opportunities in Central Asia. And our new office in Abu Dhabi will reinforce our role of a link between the regions, combining regional expertise and specific financial instruments. Investors gain access to proven projects with an optimal risk-return profile, while Central Asian countries gain access to new sources of funding for their development," commented Nikolai Podguzov, Chairman of the EDB Management Board.

The EDB's local presence in ADGM will be a key element of this ecosystem, facilitating direct dialogue with regulators, sovereign wealth funds and other institutional investors in the Gulf. For the Bank, this means strengthening its position in one of the world's most important financial hubs and enhancing its ability to develop new instruments, including Islamic finance.

One of the key initiatives within the platform will be the launch of a specialised credit fund to finance infrastructure in Central Asia. The fund will be registered in the ADGM jurisdiction and will focus on debt financing of the Bank's infrastructure projects. It will leverage ADGM's regulatory advantages to offer Middle Eastern and international investors an efficient and secure structure for investing in the region, thereby increasing capital inflows into strategically important assets. The fund will offer investors a diversified portfolio of projects where the EDB acts as a structuring partner and co-investor.

Salem Al Darei, CEO of ADGM Authority, said: "ADGM is proud to welcome the Eurasian Development Bank to our dynamic international financial centre. Their presence reinforces Abu Dhabi's position as a global conduit for capital flows and investment partnerships. By establishing their platform within our robust regulatory ecosystem, the EDB will be better equipped to connect Gulf investors with high-quality opportunities across Central Asia. We look forward to supporting their efforts to deepen financial collaboration, expand cross-border investment, and further strengthen the economic ties between our regions".

The office establishment was preceded by successful work to build trust with Middle Eastern partners. In 2025, the EDB made its debut placements of UAE dirham-denominated bonds: in April, on the Astana International Exchange (AIX) for AED 185 million (USD 50 million), and in June, in the UAE with the participation of First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) and the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) for AED 200 million (USD 54 million). These transactions confirmed sustained demand for the Bank's instruments from Middle Eastern investors.

Why is Central Asia a Strategic Opportunity for GCC Investors?

According to EDB data, over the past 5 years, mutual trade between Central Asia and the GCC has increased by 4.2 times, while accumulated direct investments have grown by 1.8 times.

Key sectors for investment through the EDB platform:

Furthermore, Islamic finance is actively developing in Central Asia. A joint forecast by the EDB, the IsDB, and the London Stock Exchange predicts further growth of the sector to $6.3 billion in Islamic banking assets and $5.6 billion in sukuk securities by 2033.

Additional Information:

The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) is a multilateral development bank investing in Eurasia. For more than 19 years, the Bank has worked to strengthen and expand economic ties and foster comprehensive development in its member countries. By july 2025, the EDB's cumulative portfolio comprised 319 projects with a total investment of US $19,1 billion. Its portfolio consists principally of projects with an integration effect in transport infrastructure, digital systems, green energy, agriculture, manufacturing and mechanical engineering. The Bank adheres to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and ESG principles in its operations.

The EDB is implementing three mega-projects as part of its 2022-2026 Strategy: the Eurasian Transport Network, the Eurasian Agricultural Goods Distribution System and the Central Asian Water and Energy Complex.

The EDB Media Centre:

+7 (717) 255 84 84, ext. 4774, 2160

[email protected]

https://eabr.org/