Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has cemented its position as the Middle East, Africa and South Asia’s largest financial hub, with active registered companies exceeding 8,000 and banking assets reaching about $240 billion, a 200 per cent increase since 2015.
The milestone includes more than 1,000 entities regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), the region’s largest concentration of financial institutions under one framework. The DIFC Courts also processed over AED 17.5 billion in case values so far this year, underscoring its growing role as a trusted jurisdiction for commercial dispute resolution.
The centre’s expansion has helped Dubai climb to 11th place globally in the Global Financial Centres Index, reinforcing its status as the region’s leading finance hub and among the world’s top four FinTech ecosystems.
Essa Kazim, Governor of DIFC, said the growth reflects the centre’s pivotal role in achieving Dubai’s Economic Agenda (D33).
“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,” he said.
The DFSA currently regulates over 1,000 entities within DIFC, while 289 licensed banks and capital markets firms – including 27 of the world’s 29 globally systemically important banks – now manage $240 billion of assets from the centre.
“Financial regulated entities are coming here because this is where they are growing, connecting to investors and markets all over the world,” said Mark Steward, Chief Executive of the DFSA.
Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer of DIFC Authority, said surpassing 8,000 registered companies demonstrates the centre’s scale and diversification. “This depth and diversity enable us to meaningfully contribute to Dubai’s economic growth while shaping the evolution of the global financial services landscape,” he said.
The DIFC Courts, which serve as the region’s leading English-language commercial court, reported a sustained increase in claim values in 2025, particularly in higher-value and opt-in cases.
“These developments reinforce the DIFC Courts’ status as a trusted regional jurisdiction of choice for resolving complex commercial disputes,” said Chief Justice Wayne Martin.
Established in 2004, DIFC is home to 48,000 professionals from 8,000 companies across banking, asset management, insurance and capital markets, and continues to drive Dubai’s emergence as a global financial powerhouse.
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