Abu Dhabi, UAE — Brazil’s leading digital bank Nubank is advancing its global expansion strategy with plans to establish a regional headquarters at Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), marking a significant entry into the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
The development follows a high-level meeting between His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, and David Vélez, Founder and CEO of Nubank. The meeting, held in Abu Dhabi, focused on exploring investment opportunities and strengthening the UAE’s position as a gateway for global financial institutions expanding into Asia and MENA markets.
According to the Abu Dhabi Media Office, Nubank’s regional rollout will be supported through partnerships with key financial and banking institutions, including Wio Bank, an integrated digital banking platform based in Abu Dhabi.
Nubank’s new headquarters at ADGM will be developed in collaboration with leading investment, economic, and financial entities, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s ambition to attract global fintech players and enhance its financial ecosystem.
Founded in 2013 in São Paulo, Nubank has grown into the largest digital bank in Latin America and one of the world’s leading fintech institutions. The company manages assets exceeding $78 billion and serves over 100 million customers across multiple markets, including Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Uruguay, the United States, and Germany.
The meeting was attended by several senior Abu Dhabi officials, including Jassem Al Zaabi, Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, and Saif Saeed Ghobash. Also present was Badr Saleem Sultan Al-Olama.
From Nubank’s side, the delegation included Roberto Campos Neto, Vice-Chairman and Global Head of Public Policy, and Guilherme Lago, Chief Financial Officer of Nu Holdings Ltd. and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nu México.
The move underscores Abu Dhabi’s growing appeal as a global financial hub and highlights increasing cross-border collaboration between Latin America’s fintech leaders and the Middle East’s rapidly evolving digital banking ecosystem.
