Dubai Strengthens Position as Leading Regional Financial Hub

Dubai is consolidating its role as the leading global financial centre for the MEASA region (Middle East, Africa, and South Asia), according to recent data from the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

The DIFC has surpassed 8,000 active registered companies, with over 1,000 entities regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), its independent regulator. Meanwhile, DIFC Courts have recorded cases with total claim values exceeding AED 17.5 billion (€4.1 billion) so far this year.

Dubai’s progress is also reflected in the Global Financial Centre Index, where the city climbed to 11th place globally, cementing its status as the region’s most credible financial hub and one of the top four global FinTech centres.

H.E. Essa Kazim, Governor of DIFC, said, “DIFC’s success reflects its ability to attract global talent, foster innovation, and support sustainable economic growth. Our focus is not just on issuing licences, but on providing a platform for companies to lead and grow.”
 

A Financial Centre Growing Since 2004

Since its founding in 2004, DIFC has turned Dubai into a magnet for international financial institutions, FinTech innovators, and professional services firms. Its structure combines strategic leadership, globally aligned regulatory oversight, and a specialised court system, offering businesses stability and predictability.

With over 8,000 registered companies, DIFC employs approximately 48,000 professionals, making it the region’s largest financial talent pool. The centre hosts the largest clusters in banking, capital markets, wealth and asset management, and insurance, establishing itself as the region’s only financial centre operating at full scale across all sectors.

H.E. Arif Amiri, CEO of DIFC Authority, noted: “The depth and diversity of DIFC enable us to contribute significantly to Dubai’s economic growth while shaping the global financial services landscape. Beyond finance, our agenda is also driving Dubai’s emergence as the region’s leading city for technology innovation.”
 

Banking and Assets on the Rise

The 289 licensed banks and capital markets institutions at DIFC, including 27 of the world’s 29 globally systemically important banks, now manage around USD 240 billion (€208 billion) in banking assets — up from USD 80 billion (€69.3 billion) in 2015, a near 200% increase.
 

Strong Regulation and Innovation

The DFSA regulates more than 1,000 entities within DIFC, the largest number in any regional financial centre, under a common law framework aligned with leading global standards. Mark Steward, CEO of DFSA, said, “Financial regulated entities are coming here because this is where they are growing, connecting to investors and markets all over the world and linking global capital to new growth opportunities in banking, capital markets, wealth and asset management across developed and emerging markets.”

DFSA plans to evolve its funds regime to maintain DIFC’s position as a preferred destination for hedge funds, wealth and asset management, and alternative investment firms, supporting the centre’s future growth.

Courts Trusted for Efficiency and Reliability

The DIFC Courts remain the region’s leading English-language commercial court, offering dispute resolution services to domestic and international businesses. This year, total claims filed have already exceeded AED 17.5 billion (€ 4.1 billion).

H.E. Wayne Martin, Chief Justice of DIFC Courts, said: “the substantial increase in overall claim values in 2025 demonstrates a sustained pattern of growth, particularly in opt-in matters and higher-value claims. These developments reinforce the DIFC Courts’ status as a trusted regional jurisdiction of choice for resolving complex commercial disputes, supported by experienced judges, and ready enforceability in the UAE and Gulf region.”

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