ADGM Academy and PGIM Launch RealAssetX Abu Dhabi Innovation Centre
Abu Dhabi, 23 September 2025
ADGM Academy, the knowledge arm of ADGM, in partnership with PGIM – the USD 1.4 trillion global investment management business of Prudential Financial, Inc. – has officially inaugurated the RealAssetX Abu Dhabi Innovation Centre, with the support of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and leading Abu Dhabi-based academic institutions.
The Centre, located within ADGM Academy, marks the region’s first dedicated hub for AI and sustainable innovation in the real assets sector.
The launch event, hosted at ADGM, brought together leaders from government, academia, and industry for keynote addresses, panel discussions, and a guided tour of the new facilities.
A Global Network Anchored in Abu Dhabi
RealAssetX was launched by PGIM in 2023 to accelerate innovation across real estate, infrastructure, and energy. With existing hubs in London, Singapore, and the U.S., the Abu Dhabi Centre will serve as the Middle East headquarters, connecting local talent with global expertise.
The Centre will focus on three transformative areas:
• Climate Technologies – advancing decarbonisation and environmental resilience.
• AI-driven Decision-Making – enhancing asset management and investment strategies.
• Breakthrough Applications – including blockchain for real estate, smart infrastructure, and advanced materials.
Leadership Insights
“The inauguration of RealAssetX Abu Dhabi underscores our ambition to place Abu Dhabi at the forefront of global innovation in real assets and infrastructure. By combining AI, sustainability, and deep technology, this Centre will nurture talent, attract global collaboration, and deliver pioneering solutions that strengthen our knowledge economy and advance the UAE’s strategic goals. This is the first-of-its-kind initiative in Abu Dhabi, turning local and global academic research into market-ready companies and endorsing innovation from Abu Dhabi to the world.”
– Mansoor Jaffar, CEO, ADGM Academy and Research Centre
“As transformative technologies like AI, digital twins and innovative financing models redefine the foundations of our economies, RealAssetX Centre serves as a dynamic bridge between research, technology and investment. It unlocks new opportunities and reinforces Abu Dhabi’s ambition to build an innovation-led economy.”
– H.E. Badr Salim Al Olama, Director General of ADIO
“The opening of the RealAssetX Abu Dhabi Innovation Centre marks a pivotal moment in our journey to redefine the future of real assets through technology and collaboration. This Centre is more than a physical space—it’s a catalyst for pioneering research and practical solutions that address the evolving needs of the real asset industry.”
– Mohammed Abdulmalek, Head of Middle East at PGIM
Supporting Startups, Talent, and Sustainable Growth
Through hackathons, accelerators, and venture-building initiatives, RealAssetX Abu Dhabi will foster startups and transform academic research into market-ready solutions. It will also work closely with UAE universities to develop research collaboration and talent pipelines.
The first research project, announced at the launch, will explore the use of generative AI in predictive asset management, in partnership with Abu Dhabi academic institutions.
Strengthening Abu Dhabi’s Position
The launch of RealAssetX Abu Dhabi reflects ADGM Academy’s ongoing mission to support the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 agenda, economic diversification, and knowledge economy. By bridging regulators, investors, academia, and industry, the Centre is set to drive innovation in real assets from Abu Dhabi to the world.