The announcement coincides with DIFC surpassing 8,000 active registered companies, including over 1,000 entities being regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), the Centre’s independent regulator. Additionally, the DIFC Courts have recorded a total of over AED 17.5 billion in case values so far this year.
Dubai continues to advance through the Global Financial Centre Index, where it has been announced that the city has progressed to 11th place globally, cementing its leading position as the region’s most credible centre for the industry, and the top four global FinTech hubs.
The milestones announced not only reflect how Dubai has transformed into a global financial services hub but also its significant contribution to the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33).
H.E. Essa Kazim, Governor of DIFC, commented: “As part of DIFC’s significant contribution to Dubai’s Economic Agenda, we continue to empower the financial services industry, attract global talent and support sustainable economic growth.”
Dubai as the region’s global financial powerhouse
Since its inception in 2004, through its three independent bodies – DIFC Authority, DFSA and DIFC Courts – DIFC has turned Dubai into a magnet for global financial powerhouses, innovators and professional services leaders, providing an ecosystem that blends legal and regulatory certainty with business agility, becoming the benchmark for emerging financial centres worldwide.
Its proven model combines the DIFC Authority’s leadership in strategy, infrastructure and innovation, supported by the DFSA’s globally aligned regulatory oversight, and the DIFC Courts’ expertise in dispute resolution, together delivering transparency, stability and certainty for businesses.
The DIFC’s success serves as a benchmark for emerging financial centres, resulting from a business environment built for success, where companies not only gain a licence to operate but also a platform to lead and grow. Our framework is built not just for today, but for the future – one that embraces innovation, upholds the highest standards and remains anchored in integrity,” added H.E. Essa Kazim.
The Region’s Only Financial Centre Operating at Scale
Benefiting from global connectivity and access to more than 72 countries across MEASA, DIFC has evolved into the region’s largest and most diversified financial hub. Guided by the DIFC Authority’s strategic direction, the Centre hosts over 8,000 active companies employing 48,000 professionals — the region’s deepest pool of financial expertise.
Home to 289 licensed banks and capital markets firms, including 27 of the world’s 29 globally systemically important banks, DIFC now manages around USD 240bn in banking assets — a nearly 200% increase over the past decade.
Regulatory framework supporting scale
As the DFSA’s strategy and regulatory frameworks continue to evolve to support scale, cross-market connectivity and innovation while safeguarding stability, DIFC is well-positioned to lead the next phase of the financial services industry’s transformation. The DFSA’s robust regulatory framework, based on common law and benchmarked against leading global regulators, is integral to DIFC’s success.
The DFSA now regulates more than 1,000 entities within DIFC – the largest number in any financial centre across the region.
To support future scale, the DFSA will evolve its funds regime to ensure it retains best-in-class status, enabling DIFC to continue cementing its reputation as the preferred location for hedge funds, wealth and asset management companies and alternative investment firms.
The DIFC Courts continue to be the leading English language commercial court in the MEASA region, offering domestic, regional, and international businesses world-class dispute resolution services. Year to date, over AED 17.5 billion in total claim values have been filed at the DIFC Courts.
