The United Arab Emirates continues to attract massive institutional capital as a central hub for financial technology. In a major funding event for the region, Abu Dhabi-headquartered Advanced Digital Gaming Technology (ADGT) has secured a $250 million investment from global alternative asset manager Blackstone. The capital will fund the deployment of a new global standard for financial payments technology.
Quick Facts
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Blackstone injects $250 million into UAE-based ADGT.
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Backed by Raya Holding, NRT Technology, and Sightline.
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Provides payments infrastructure for regulated digital markets globally.
Building a Unified Financial Infrastructure in Abu Dhabi
ADGT was established through a strategic partnership between Blackstone, Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Raya Holding, and technology providers NRT Technology and Sightline Payments. The newly formed platform addresses the complex compliance and payment needs of regulated digital markets.
Currently operating as the primary payments and compliance technology provider for the UAE’s commercial gaming market, ADGT holds a unique market position. It is the only licensed platform authorized to contract directly with both physical land-based venues and online digital platforms. This dual capability allows operators and consumers to interact through a unified financial experience.
The platform’s architecture integrates digital wallets, real-time funding, payout rails, and identity management. It also features strict compliance monitoring, supporting both open-loop and closed-loop ecosystems within a single interoperable network.
Institutional Capital Targets High-Growth MENA Markets
The $250 million capital injection highlights growing institutional confidence in building global technology platforms from the MENA region. ADGT plans to target initial deployments across the UAE, the broader Middle East, Africa, and select international corridors.
Michael Dominelli, CEO of ADGT, emphasized the structural advantages of launching from Abu Dhabi.
“Built upon modern infrastructure, and with a strong institutional and regulatory framework, we have created a platform that is designed, built, governed and experienced with resilience and scalability in mind,” Dominelli said. “With the backing of Blackstone, Raya Holding and the leading payments technology partnerships, we have the scale, resources and credibility to create a global success story engineered and headquartered in the UAE.”
For Blackstone, this investment aligns with an ongoing strategy to deploy capital across high-growth sectors in the region. The asset manager, which oversees more than $1.3 trillion globally, previously backed UAE real estate marketplace Property Finder and pan-GCC logistics platform GLIDE.
“We see significant opportunity to deploy capital at scale in the UAE to build companies that can grow both domestically and internationally, despite near-term headwinds,” noted Jon Gray, President and Chief Operating Officer at Blackstone.
The initiative also aligns with the national strategy to host scalable digital platforms. H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan stated that ADGT reflects the UAE’s long-term vision to lead in the development of regulated digital infrastructure.
About Advanced Digital Gaming Technology (ADGT)
Headquartered in Abu Dhabi and founded by Michael Dominelli, Advanced Digital Gaming Technology (ADGT) is a payments and data intelligence platform. The company provides a unified infrastructure for physical and online transactions, focusing on digital wallets, real-time payment rails, cross-border interoperability, and compliance systems for regulated digital markets globally.
Source: Jawlah
