Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is
the leading global financial centre in the Middle East, Africa and
South Asia (MEASA) region. It was established in 2004 to connect
these fast-growth markets with the economies of Asia, Europe, and
the Americas, and to attract international businesses and
investors.
Two decades later, the DIFC now hosts 6,920 active companies, up
from 5,523 companies in 2023, and attracted 1,823 new registrations
in 2024, a 25% increase and the highest number recorded in a single
year.
DIFC is home to the region's largest cluster of financial
services companies. At the end of 2024, this included more than 260
banking and capital markets companies; 410 wealth and asset
management firms, including 75 hedge funds; and 125 insurance and
reinsurance related companies. Over 70 brokerage companies are also
part of the ecosystem.
