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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:

• Transport and Logistics: The development of the North-South Corridor could increase transit flows through Central Asia by 40%, halving the logistics distance for delivering goods from the Gulf countries.
• Water Sector and Agribusiness: The annual market volume for irrigation equipment is estimated at $426 million, and for water supply – up to $2 billion annually.
• Renewable Energy: A fast-growing market for companies like Masdar, which is already present in the region.

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.