Dubai International Financial Centre Achieves Record Growth

Photo: Dubai Government Media Office 

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), one of the world’s top financial hubs, has reported its best-ever performance in the first half of a year. This record-breaking achievement highlights how important DIFC is in leading the financial future of Dubai and supporting the city’s Dubai Economic Agenda D33 – a plan focused on making Dubai one of the world’s top cities in economy and innovation.

Huge Growth in Registered Companies

Between January and June 2025, DIFC welcomed 1,081 new registered companies, which is a 32% increase compared to the same period in 2024. This brings the total number of companies operating in DIFC to 7,700, up from 6,153 in the first half of 2024 – a 25% year-on-year increase.

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In addition, the number of professionals working in DIFC increased from 43,787 to 47,901, marking a 9% growth. This shows how DIFC is creating jobs and attracting more talent from all over the world.

Leaders Celebrate the Achievement

His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the First Deputy Ruler of Dubai and President of DIFC, said that these results reflect the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE. He said Dubai is now stepping into a greater phase of growth. This growth shows that Dubai is seen as competitive and attractive in the eyes of the global community.

He added that DIFC will keep improving, supporting new ideas, staying flexible, and helping businesses grow.

A Top Global Financial Hub

DIFC is now recognized globally for its full-range financial services. According to the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI), Dubai is among only eight cities in the world that have deep and broad capabilities across all parts of the finance industry. Other cities in this category include London, New York, and Paris.

In the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region, Dubai is the only city listed among the top 10 globally in several sectors:

• FinTech – 5th

• Professional Services – 6th

• Investment Management – 8th

• Infrastructure – 9th

• Business Environment – 10th

Growth in Regulated Financial Services

DIFC has the largest regulated financial ecosystem in the region. There are now 980 entities regulated by the DFSA (Dubai Financial Services Authority), which is a 17% increase from last year.

Also, financial service authorizations have increased by 28%, going up to 78 in the first half of 2025 compared to 61 in the same period in 2024.

Banking and Capital Markets Growing

DIFC’s banking and capital markets sector saw strong expansion. The number of companies in this sector increased from 247 to 289, marking a 17% growth. This sector supports economic development by offering essential financial services to the region.

Strong Wealth and Asset Management Sector

Dubai has the highest concentration of private wealth in the Middle East, according to Henley & Partners. DIFC benefits from this by having the largest wealth and asset management sector in the region.

The number of firms in this cluster rose from 370 to 440, which is a 19% year-on-year increase.

DIFC is now home to:

• More than 85 hedge funds, up 72% in one year

• 69 billion-dollar funds

• Over 10,000 funds being managed or marketed

Family businesses are also growing in DIFC. The number of entities linked to family businesses went up from 600 to 1,035, showing a 73% increase. The number of foundations rose from 548 to 842, a 54% growth.

Growth in Insurance and Reinsurance

The insurance and reinsurance sector also saw strong performance. There are now 135 related firms, up 8% from 125 in the first half of 2024. Gross written premiums for 2024 reached USD 3.5 billion, up from USD 2.6 billion – a huge 35% increase.

New Companies Joining DIFC

Some of the new companies that joined DIFC in 2025 include:

• ABK Capital

• Avaloq

• Baron Capital

• Bluecrest Capital

• Cambridge Associates

• dLocal

• Manulife

• PIMCO

• TransAmerica Life Bermuda

• Welwing Capital Management
  And many more from around the world.

Officials Speak on the Growth

Essa Kazim, Governor of DIFC, said that DIFC is a key engine for Dubai’s economy and financial growth.

Arif Amiri, CEO of DIFC Authority, added that DIFC exceeded all expectations in the first half of 2025, thanks to its strong ecosystem and expertise. He emphasized that DIFC is fully committed to shaping the future of finance from Dubai.

FinTech, AI, and Innovation

DIFC is also growing in technology and innovation. The number of FinTech and innovation firms rose to 1,388, up 28% from 1,081 in 2024. This makes Dubai one of the top five FinTech hubs in the world.

There was also a 28% increase in non-financial firms, reaching 6,335 from 4,935 last year.

Major Tech Events and Initiatives

DIFC held key events in 2025 such as:

• Dubai AI Festival

• Dubai FinTech Summit
  These events attracted over 20,000 participants from 120 countries.

DIFC also launched:

• Dubai AI Academy

• Dubai Future Finance Week – planned for May 2026
  These events are set to further grow Dubai’s position in AI and finance.

Ignyte Platform Success

DIFC launched Ignyte in late 2024, a growth platform for start-ups and investors. In just a few months, users have redeemed over AED 182 million in benefits, showing its big impact in helping new businesses grow.

Supporting Education and Talent

DIFC supports Dubai’s Education Strategy 2033 through the DIFC Academy, which partners with top universities like:

• American University of Cairo

• Georgetown University

• London Business School

• Pantheon Assas University

The academy now offers 12 master’s degree programs, and since it started, 46,103 learners have completed courses. In the first half of 2025 alone, 4,947 learners took part – the highest ever.

DIFC also launched the ‘1 Million Learners’ initiative, with 30 partners. The goal is to educate one million people on sustainability by 2030. In H1 2025, the academy delivered 6,075 hours of sustainability learning, bringing the total to 22,241 hours.

Legal and Governance Leadership

DIFC is improving its laws to stay up-to-date globally. It uses international standards to make sure its legal system is flexible and reliable. The legal framework includes:

• Common law system

• Wide legal knowledge base

• Strong balance of commercial flexibility and legal protection

In early 2025, DIFC proposed new Variable Capital Company Regulations to improve investment structuring. Updates were also proposed to laws covering security, insolvency, and employment.

DIFC was also selected to host the Global Privacy Assembly 2026, the world’s top event on data protection and privacy.

Urban Development and Real Estate Growth

DIFC is growing physically too. Its real estate projects are part of Dubai’s urban development plans. The new DIFC Heights project sold out in just three days due to high demand for luxury housing in the financial district.

More than 1.6 million square feet of commercial space is being built, with completion starting in early 2026. A new data platform was launched to give others access to real estate information, supporting Dubai Real Estate Strategy 2033.

The first half of 2025 has been a historic time for DIFC. From attracting hundreds of new companies and expanding its financial ecosystem to leading in innovation, AI, and sustainability education, DIFC is proving itself as a world-class financial centre. With plans already underway for more growth, Dubai’s vision of becoming a top global economy is clearly taking shape, and DIFC is at the heart of it.