Dubai International Financial Center reveals record performance during the first half of 2025

Dubai, July 28/ WAM/ The Dubai International Financial Center, the Global Financial Center in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, announced today the record of record results for the first half of 2025, which represents its best first annual performance ever, strengthening its pivotal role in leading the future of the financial sector, and contributing to achieving the target of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33).
During the first six months of 2025, the Dubai International Financial Center witnessed the joining of a record number of new companies that established its operations within the center, bringing the total number of entities associated with it to 7,700 active companies registered, compared to 6,153 companies during the first half of the year 2024, with an annual growth rate of 25%.

1,081 new active companies registered to the center joined the center from the beginning of January to the end of June 2025, an increase of 32% compared to the same period in 2024.

The number of the workforce in the center increased to 47,901 people, recording a noticeable increase by 9% compared to 43,787 people in the previous year.

“The unprecedented results that the Dubai International Financial Center continues to achieve with a distinguished and comprehensive performance in all fields, translates the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister, Ruler of Dubai, may God bless him, and aims to establish Dubai’s position in the forefront of the most advanced financial centers in the world … Dubai It has entered a new stage of growing growth and these results reflect its competitiveness, attractiveness and international confidence in its position .. We believe that the future holds more opportunities .. We will continue to enhance the ability of the Dubai International Financial Center and its supportive systems for innovation, flexibility and business growth. “
The Dubai International Financial Center, through its strategic initiatives and its leading position in the region in various fields, succeeded in consolidating the divorced Dubai in the financial sector, to be among the best eight leading and regional global cities in the Global Financial Centers Index (GFCI) alongside major cities such as London, New York and Paris, due to its “wide and deep” financial capabilities in all areas of the financial sector.
Dubai is currently the only center in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, which is included in the best financial cities in the world in several sectors, according to the Global Financial Centers Index (GFCI); Where it ranks fifth in the field of financial technology, the sixth rank in professional services, the eighth rank in investment management, the ninth rank in the infrastructure, and the tenth rank in the business environment.
The Dubai International Financial Center continues to enhance its position as the largest integrated system of financial services in the region; Where there are currently 980 entities subject to the regulation and supervision of the Dubai Financial Services Authority, as it is an independent financial services organizer that is practiced in or from the World Financial Center, with an annual increase of 17% compared to 2024.

The total licenses granted to the financial services sector increased by 28% on an annual basis, as the licenses during the first half of this year reached 78 licenses compared to 61 licenses during the first half of 2024.
The banking and capital markets gathering at the Dubai International Financial Center is the largest of its kind in the region without a competitor, and this growth comes in line with the increasing demand for integrated and advanced financial services to support economic development aspirations in the region. 289 companies are currently working in the center at the center, high from 247 companies last year, with a remarkable growth of 17%.
Dubai embraces the highest focus of special resources between the cities of the Middle East, according to the “Henley & Partners” report, which contributed to supporting the growth of the wealth and asset management sector in the Dubai International Financial Center, which is the largest in the region.

The number of companies operating in this sector in the center increased to 440 companies, compared to 370 companies during the first half of 2024, up by 19% on an annual basis. Today, the center includes more than 85 frustration boxes, including 69 funds within the institutions of the “billion dollar club”, and more than 10,000 funds are administered or marketed.
The Dubai International Financial Center also continues to consolidate its position as a preferred position for family companies thanks to its integrated approach to supporting this sector, which includes providing opportunities to reach alternative investments through its customers in the wealth and asset management sector, in addition to setting structures that support the growth and sustainability of these companies.

The center currently includes 1,035 entities linked to family companies, compared to 600 entities last year, representing an increase of 73%.

The center witnessed an accelerated growth in the number of foundations of establishment, with a number of 842, compared to 548 during the first half of 2024, an increase of 54% on an annual basis.
The insurance and reinsurance sector witnessed remarkable growth, as the number of companies operating in this field within the center’s system reached 135, an increase of 8% compared to 125 companies during the first half of 2024.

During the first half of the year 2025, the total number of premiums of the seized was announced to $ 3.5 billion for 2024, compared to $ 2.6 billion in the previous year, recording a noticeable increase by 35%.
In the same context, the first half of the year 2025 witnessed the joining of a number of prominent international institutions to the base of the growing Dubai World Financial Center, including: ABK Capital, Avaluk, Parun Capital, Balcrist Capital, Bridge Investment Group, Cambridge Associated, China International Capital (CICC), Manolaev, Delocal, The National Bank of Kuwait, Perle Davir Capital, Pimco, the Her Harf Fund in Capital, Silver Point Capital, Tourmaline Partners, Trance-America Live Bermuda, Wilwing Capital Management, and other companies.
His Excellency Issa Kazem, Governor of the Dubai International Financial Center, said that the center is still a key driver for economic growth in Dubai, through its pivotal role in enabling the expansion and diversification of the financial services sector.

He added that the performance of the continuous across the various main sectors reflects, along with its prestigious global position and reputation, its commitment to pay the innovation, to attract global capital, and establish Dubai’s position as one of the most diverse and competitive economies in the world.
For his part, Aref Amiri, CEO of the Dubai International Financial Center, said that the center exceeded during the first half of 2025, all expectations in various fields, and this distinguished performance reflects the strength of the integrated system it provides, the expansion of its platform, and the depth of the experiences it provides to the sector.

He affirmed the continuous commitment of the center to lead the future of the financial sector from Dubai, and to enhance its lead as the first global financial center in the region.
The innovation system in the Dubai International Financial Center continued to attract more technology -based companies, as the number of companies specialized in financial technology and innovation increased to 1,388 companies, compared to 1,081 companies in the first half of 2024, an annual increase by 28%, and this growth contributed to the consolidation of Dubai’s position among the five best global financial centers for financial technology according to the latest classification issued by the international financial centers index (GFCI).
This, during the first half of 2025, contributed to a total growth of 28% in the number of active non -financial entities, to reach 6,335 entities compared to 4,935 entities in the previous year.
The main events of the Dubai International Financial Center – the “Dubai AI Festival” and the “Dubai Financial Technology Summit” – attracted more than 20 thousand participants from more than 120 countries.

During these events, and in support of the goals of the Dubai International Financial Center’s agenda, the Dubai AI and the announcement of the Dubai Week for the Financial Sector, which will be held in May 2026, and collects six major activities, including: Dubai Financial Technology Summit, the Future Sustainability Forum, and the annual general assembly meeting of the Dubai District Fund for the future.
Since the launch of the “IGNYTE” digital platform at the end of 2024, a platform that aims to accelerate the growth of more than 100,000 startups and entrepreneurship, the value of the benefits that the participants have benefited from so far is 182 million dirhams, which reflects the true economic impact of the platform, and confirms its effective role as a stimulating growth.
In support of the goals of Dubai Education Strategy 2033 and Dubai Economic Agency (D33), the Dubai International Financial Center Academy has become the preferred choice for prestigious international universities, as the center’s partners include leading universities, including the American University in Cairo, “ESIB College of Business”, “ESEC College of Business”, “Georgetown University”, “London College of Business”, “Pantone Foundation”, and “Skim College of Business”, and these universities are presented. The centers together are 12 masters degrees.
Since the establishment of the Dubai International Financial Center Academy, 46,103 learners have completed its training programs through 32 active partners, including 4,947 learners during the first half of 2025, the highest record of the academy registration during a six -month period.
In the context of his commitment to achieving a long -term impact, and within the “sustainable financing stimulus initiative”, the center launched the “Million E learning” initiative with the support of 30 founding partners, as the initiative aims to train one million people and provide them with knowledge in the field of sustainability by 2030.

This initiative comes in response to the increasing demand for sustainability training programs at the Dubai International Financial Center Academy, which during the first half of this year was presented 6,075 educational hours in this field, bringing the total programs provided to 22,241 hours through 42 training courses.
The Dubai International Financial Center continues to develop its legal and regulatory frameworks to keep pace with the rapid global developments.

The legal framework of the center is characterized by legislation specifically designed according to the highest international standards derived from the best international sources, models and standards that will meet the needs of an international financial center efficiently and flexible.

This framework reinforces an integrated legal system based on the principles of public law supported by a wide range of advanced legislation. This system represents an ideal mixture of legal certainty, commercial flexibility and judicial development, which makes the Dubai World Financial Center the preferred legal destination for companies at the region and the world level.
During the first half of 2025, the center proposed the issuance of new regulations for changing capital companies, aiming to enhance investment structure options and asset management significantly, especially for private investments within the center.

In addition, a set of amendments to the laws determined by the law amending the Dubai International Financial Center Laws, Law No. 1 of 2005, including amendments to the security law, the bankruptcy law, and the employment law, were proposed to ensure their compatibility with international standards.
In a prominent achievement that reflects the growing influence of Dubai in the field of global governance, the Dubai International Financial Center was chosen to host the World Privacy Association for 2026, which is the first global forum for data protection and privacy authorities.
The Dubai International Financial Financial Center portfolio continues to support Dubai’s ambitions in the field of urban development; The units offered from the new Heights Tower project were sold within only 3 days of its launch, which reflects the strong demand for the luxury lifestyle within the financial neighborhood.
More than 1.6 million square feet of commercial spaces are currently being developed, which will be provided starting from the first quarter of next year, while speeding up the frequency of construction to meet the growing demand.

The center also launched a new data platform that allows a third party to access real estate information, in line with the goals of the “Dubai Real Estate Sector Strategy 2033”.

• For more: Follow Khaleejion 24 Arabic, Khaleejion 24 English, Khaleejion 24 Live, and for social media follow us on Facebook and Related