182 new firms received licences and were registered in DIFC in 2025, a 16 per cent increase on 2024 – and third consecutive year of double-digit registration growth
Dubai’s International Financial Centre (DIFC) recorded its third consecutive year of double-digit growth in firm registrations in 2025, as the emirate climbed to its highest-ever position in a global financial centre ranking, according to the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) annual report.
The DFSA said 182 new firms were licensed and registered in 2025, up 16 per cent from a year earlier, taking the total number of regulated entities to 1,050 across banking, capital markets, wealth management, insurance and fintech.
Since the end of the reporting period, Dubai has risen to seventh place globally in the Global Financial Centres Index 39, published in March 2026, its highest ranking to date, reflecting continued investor confidence in the emirate’s financial sector and regulatory framework.
The growth comes as Dubai pursues its D33 economic agenda and DIFC 2030 strategy, which aim to position the emirate among the world’s top four global financial hubs by 2033.
“2025 saw a third consecutive year of double-digit growth in Dubai’s International Financial Centre,” said Mark Steward, chief executive of the DFSA.
“This signals continued strong confidence in DIFC and Dubai and a broadening and deepening of the ecosystem, underscored by the DFSA’s risk-based regulatory environment.”
The fund management sector remained a core pillar of DIFC’s financial ecosystem, expanding to 121 authorised firms, with 276 funds registered in total.
Assets under management in wealth and asset management rose 4 per cent year-on-year to $176bn, while assets under advisory increased 22 per cent to $220bn.
The insurance sector grew 15 per cent, driven largely by reinsurance activity, reinforcing DIFC’s role as a regional hub for risk transfer business.
Banks operating in DIFC saw combined balance sheets rise 19 per cent year-on-year to $251bn, up 195 per cent from 2015 levels.
Capital markets activity also expanded, with new debenture listings reaching $30.6bn in 2025 and total outstanding listings at $147.4bn. Sukuk listings stood at $107.9bn.
DFSA focused on supporting DIFC
The over-the-counter (OTC) market recorded more than $13tn in transactions in the fourth quarter of 2025 alone, more than doubling in value and volume compared with the prior year period.
“The Dubai Financial Services Authority continues to support the rapid growth of DIFC in line with Dubai’s long-term economic strategy,” said Fadel Al Ali, chairman of the DFSA.
“The recent Global Financial Centres Index ranking reflects the strength of what we are building together.”
The DFSA said enforcement and market integrity measures also intensified during the year, with 17 active investigative matters and 322 complaints received, of which 81 per cent were resolved within 28 days.
The regulator also issued 49 consumer alerts, a 69 per cent increase from 2024, citing rising attempts at financial scams and unauthorised activity.
On innovation, the DFSA said its tokenisation regulatory sandbox launched in March 2025 attracted 96 expressions of interest from firms across six jurisdictions.
It also reported rising adoption of artificial intelligence across the financial sector, with 52 per cent of DIFC firms using AI in 2025, up from 33 per cent a year earlier.
The DFSA said 120 memoranda of understanding, including five multilateral agreements, were in place by year-end 2025 to support cross-border regulatory cooperation.
Dubai continues to position itself as a leading financial centre for the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region, competing with established global hubs as it seeks to expand its role in capital markets, wealth management and fintech.
Source: gulfbusiness