Dubai climbs global financial rankings, now 11th among financial centres worldwide
Dubai continues to solidify its status as the leading global financial centre in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA). This announcement coincides with DIFC surpassing 8,000 active registered companies, including more than 1,000 entities regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), the Centre’s independent regulator. Additionally, the DIFC Courts have recorded over AED17.5 billion (over $4.7 billion) in total case values so far this year.
Dubai is advancing through the Global Financial Centre Index, where it has been revealed that the city has moved up to 11th place globally, reinforcing its leading position as the most credible financial centre in the region, and securing its spot among the top four global FinTech hubs.
The milestones announced today not only reflect Dubai’s transformation into a global financial services hub, but also highlight its significant contribution to the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33).
H.E. Essa Kazim, governor of DIFC, stated: “As part of DIFC’s significant contribution to Dubai’s Economic Agenda (D33), we continue to empower the financial services industry, attract global talent, and support sustainable economic growth. DIFC’s success is the benchmark for emerging financial centres and a result of creating a business environment built for success, where companies not only gain a licence to operate, but 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.”
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 transformed Dubai into a magnet for global financial powerhouses, innovators, and leaders in professional services. It provides an ecosystem that merges legal and regulatory certainty with business agility, becoming the benchmark for emerging financial centres worldwide.
Its proven model integrates the DIFC Authority’s leadership in strategy, infrastructure, and innovation, bolstered by the DFSA’s globally aligned regulatory oversight, and the expertise of the DIFC Courts in dispute resolution, collectively delivering transparency, stability, and certainty for businesses.
The region’s only financial centre operating at scale across all sectors
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.
Through the DIFC Authority’s strategic direction, the Centre has attracted over 8,000 active registered companies. These companies employ 48,000 professionals the largest and most comprehensive pool of financial services talent in the region. DIFC stands as the only financial centre in the region operating at scale, uniquely positioned to contribute to the global financial industry’s development. Its clients include the largest clusters of financial services firms across banking, capital markets, wealth and asset management, and insurance sectors.
H.E. Arif Amiri, chief executive officer of DIFC Authority, remarked: “Exceeding 8,000 registered companies reinforces DIFC’s position as the only financial centre in the region operating at scale across all sectors of the industry. This depth and diversity enable us to meaningfully contribute to Dubai’s economic growth while shaping the evolution of the global financial services landscape. Beyond finance, our agenda is also driving Dubai’s emergence as the region’s leading city for technology innovation. As we continue to expand our global influence, we remain committed to ensuring DIFC empowers businesses to grow, innovate, and create lasting impact for the future economy.”
DIFC’s 289 licensed banks and capital markets companies, including 27 of the world’s 29 globally systemically important banks, currently manage approximately $240 billion of banking assets from the Centre. This figure has surged from $80 billion a decade ago, marking an increase of nearly 200 percent.
Regulatory framework supporting scale
As the DFSA’s strategy and regulatory frameworks continue to evolve to support scale, cross-market connectivity, and innovation while ensuring stability, DIFC is well-positioned to lead the next phase of transformation in the financial services industry. The DFSA’s robust regulatory framework, founded on common law and benchmarked against leading global regulators, is essential to DIFC’s success.
The DFSA now oversees more than 1,000 entities within DIFC – the largest number found in any financial centre across the region.
Mark Steward, chief executive of the Dubai Financial Services Authority, commented: “With over 1,000 regulated entities in DIFC, it is appropriate to recognise the strength, breadth, and depth of the DIFC as the region’s premier financial centre. 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.”
To support future scale, the DFSA will evolve its funds regime to ensure it retains best-in-class status, allowing DIFC to continue reinforcing its reputation as the preferred destination for hedge funds, wealth and asset management companies, and alternative investment firms.
Jurisdiction of choice for efficient and reliable court services
The DIFC Courts remain the leading English-language commercial court in the MEASA region, offering world-class dispute resolution services for domestic, regional, and international businesses.
His Excellency Wayne Martin, chief justice of the DIFC Courts, remarked: “Serving as a leading common law commercial court in the Gulf region for over 20 years, 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. Consistent trust in our services not only reflects the value placed on our legal framework by businesses and individuals alike but also strengthens the DIFC and Dubai’s status as a leading regional financial hub.”
Source: economymiddleeast