This acquisition significantly strengthens Ascentium’s presence in the Middle East, building on Clara’s strong footprint across Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
Clara is a trusted partner for businesses seeking to establish and operate within the UAE’s leading common-law financial centres. The firm serves a broad range of clients, including startups, SMEs, law firms, venture capital firms, investors, accelerators, and government-related entities. Clara is widely recognised for its regulatory expertise and consistent service delivery across company formation, governance, and ongoing compliance, supported by an advanced proprietary technology platform.
The acquisition aligns with Ascentium’s strategy to expand into key global jurisdictions through partnerships with well-established, regulated businesses that share its values and strong client focus. As part of Ascentium, Clara will benefit from access to a global platform, enhanced operational capabilities, and increased investment capacity. This will enable clients to scale internationally while maintaining the highest regulatory standards within ADGM and DIFC.
Commenting on the transaction, Lennard Yong, Founding Management and Group CEO of Ascentium, said: “The addition of ADGM to Ascentium’s global platform is a strategic milestone, and Clara’s market leadership, regulatory strength, and advanced technology make it a natural fit as we continue our expansion across the Middle East.”
Kathryn Burke, Managing Director of Clara, added: “Ascentium has built a people-led, technology-driven platform. By joining forces, we can combine deep expertise with innovation to help clients navigate complex cross-border regulatory environments, while giving Clara the scale and reach to further enhance our services globally.”
About Ascentium
Ascentium is a global business services platform that supports companies and individuals in achieving sustainable growth. Headquartered in Singapore, the firm delivers value through expert teams, purpose-driven technology, and a strong commitment to service excellence.
With more than 2,500 professionals operating across 45 cities in 23 international markets, Ascentium provides a wide range of integrated services, including corporate services, finance and accounting, fund administration, human resources, and fiduciary and trust solutions. Serving over 60,000 client entities worldwide, the company combines deep industry expertise with innovative, technology-enabled solutions to help clients manage complexity and unlock new growth opportunities.
For more information, visit ascentium.com
About Clara
Clara is a trusted digital platform designed to simplify the incorporation and management of companies within Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The platform enables clients and their advisors to efficiently set up and manage their business operations through a seamless, technology-driven experience.
Clara currently supports around 2,000 companies across ADGM and DIFC and plays a key role in promoting global awareness of the UAE’s two leading financial free zones.
For more information, visit clara.co
