Dubai International Financial Center achieves record annual results during 2025

Dubai, February 5, 2017 – The Dubai International Financial Center announced record annual results during the year 2025, strengthening Dubai’s position as a leading global financial center in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region.

The number of registered active companies currently included in the center has increased to more than 8,844 companies, an increase of 28% over the year 2024, while the number of new active companies has increased by about 2,525 companies, an increase of 39% compared to the previous year, which indicates the attractiveness of the center as a strategic gateway to global and regional financial markets.

Consolidated revenues for 2025 increased by an unprecedented 20% to reach 2.13 billion dirhams, up from 1.78 billion dirhams in 2024, while net profits increased by 28% to reach 1.48 billion dirhams compared to 1.16 billion dirhams in 2024.

His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Chairman of the Supreme Committee for the Development of the Economic and Financial Sector in the Emirate of Dubai, and President of the Dubai International Financial Centre, said: “The unprecedented results achieved by the Dubai International Financial Center during the year 2025 in all fields are a translation of the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, which aims to consolidate Dubai’s position as a leading destination.” “For finance and business in the world, and an international center for creating new economic and financial opportunities.”

His Highness added: “The continued growth in the number of registered companies, revenues, and net profits reflects the growing confidence of global financial institutions in the Dubai economic system and the legislative and regulatory framework of the Dubai International Financial Center, which is based on integrity, efficiency, and transparency, which enhances the center’s role as a major driver in supporting the emirate’s competitiveness regionally and internationally.”

His Highness stressed that the Dubai International Financial Center remains an essential pillar in Dubai’s ambitious strategy to consolidate its position among the top four global financial centers. He said: “We will continue to develop the legal and regulatory frameworks, upgrade the infrastructure, enhance the business environment, and attract the best minds and quality investments, to ensure that Dubai remains at the forefront of financial centers, and a top destination for institutions, investors, and innovation pioneers in the world.”

During the year 2025, the financial system of the Dubai International Financial Center continued to grow at a faster pace than the market, which contributed to transforming Dubai into an important global center for financial services, and the center remains the preferred destination for financial companies seeking to reach regional and global markets, and this is evident in it being the headquarters of the largest regulated financial services system in the region, which includes more than 1052 companies, and these companies include the regional headquarters of more than 290 banks and capital market institutions, 135 insurance and reinsurance companies, and 70 companies. Brokerage, more than 500 wealth and asset management entities, including 102 hedge funds, and more than 1,289 entities linked to family businesses. Working on a large scale across all sectors enables the DIFC and its client system to contribute uniquely to the development of the global financial services sector.

The growing DIFC client base in 2025 included Cambridge Associates, Capital Land, China International Capital, Delocal, Howden Re Insurance, ICICI Asset Management, Manulife, National Bank of Kuwait, North Rock Capital, PIMCO, hedge fund RV Capital, and Silver Point. Capital, Square Point Capital, Starwood Capital, Tourmaline, Turkish Waqf Bank, Trans-America Life Bermuda, Warburg Pincus, and many others.

His Excellency Issa Kazim, Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre, said: “The advanced legal and regulatory frameworks adopted by the Dubai International Financial Center form the backbone of this exceptional growth achieved by the Center in 2025. This gradual growth contributes significantly to advancing economic development in Dubai and consolidating the emirate’s position as a leading global financial center, in line with achieving the national directions and main objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33). The financial services sector in Dubai, led by the Dubai International Financial Centre, also supports progress in the region. “By enhancing investment, improving capital flows, and creating sustainable economic growth.”

For his part, His Excellency Arif Amiri, CEO of the Dubai International Financial Center Authority, said: “The record performance of the Dubai International Financial Center in 2025 shows unprecedented growth, at a stage in which the global financial sector is witnessing promising new horizons, as financial institutions, investors, innovators, families and corporate service providers today are moving towards adopting new models of innovation, operation and expansion. The support system in the Dubai International Financial Center is distinguished by being an enabling environment that stimulates innovation and anticipating the future. It meets the requirements of the new digital economy, ensuring that the center remains at the forefront of the global economic transformation scene.”

The Dubai International Financial Center has contributed to transforming Dubai into an attractive destination for major global financial companies, innovators and professional services leaders, as it operates according to a framework and system that provides legal and regulatory certainty with business flexibility, thus becoming a standard for emerging financial centers around the world.

This growth contributed to consolidating Dubai’s position on the Global Financial Centers Index (GFCI), where it ranked eleventh in the world and was among the top four global centers in the field of financial technology.

Dubai is the only financial center in the region, and one of nine global financial centers classified as centers with broad and deep capabilities.

The Global Financial Centers Index is considered the most reliable indicator in the world. The evaluation includes 140 financial cities, and is based on 140 basic factors and 28,549 evaluations from the global financial sector, and is developed independently of any entities or organizations related to the United Arab Emirates.

The Dubai International Financial Center is home to the largest cluster in the region focused on innovation, with a record 1,677 companies in the field of artificial intelligence and financial technology in 2025, an increase of 35%.

This number includes 200 companies in Campus Dubai for Artificial Intelligence, the largest gathering dedicated to artificial intelligence and technology companies in the Middle East and North Africa.

Thanks to the Innovation Hub platform in the DIFC and Campus Dubai for Artificial Intelligence, startups have collectively raised more than $4.3 billion in funding across the region.

Accelerating the pace of innovation, through the Innovation Hub in the Dubai International Financial Center and Campus Dubai for Artificial Intelligence, contributes to enhancing economic diversification based on knowledge and digital transformation, while formulating new models of economic growth that take into account flexibility and sustainability.

The launch of the Dubai Real Estate Technology Center is one example of this innovation, which aims to create a qualitative shift in the real estate sector, support more than 200 emerging and advanced companies in the field of real estate technology, provide more than 3,000 job opportunities, and attract investments worth $300 million by 2030.

This exceptional growth consolidates Dubai’s position as a leading financial center in the region, and enhances its leadership in the areas of innovation and digital transformation in the Middle East and North Africa region.

The Dubai International Financial Center has established Dubai as the capital of private wealth in the region, attracting individuals and families with high financial net worth, making Dubai today the premier destination for private wealth in the Middle East, while continuing to provide a prosperous and secure economic environment for wealthy individuals and families alike.

The center is witnessing rapid growth, and now includes more than 500 wealth and asset management companies, an increase of 22% in 2025, with 215 new companies joining during the past two and a half years.

As family offices seek to explore new asset classes, adopt emerging technologies, and develop innovative investment strategies, the DIFC has strengthened its position as the best platform for family entities.

The center currently includes 1,289 entities associated with family businesses, an annual increase of 61%. Families headquartered in the Dubai International Financial Center have also established 1,115 family enterprises, an annual increase of 66%.

During the Family Wealth Center Summit 2025, the Family Wealth Center in the Dubai International Financial Center announced the launch of the “Next Generation Leaders Program” in 2026, which was developed in cooperation with partners to empower the next generation of family business leaders through intensive training, guidance, and application of global best practices in the areas of governance, innovation, and the transfer of management between generations.

The DIFC is the largest and deepest pool of talent and competencies in the field of financial services in the region, as it includes more than 50,200 professionals working in the financial sector.

The center created more than 4,122 new jobs in 2025, an increase of 9%. This professional community is distinguished by its diversity, as women constitute 36% of the workforce, compared to 64% for men, which reflects the center’s commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in the sector.

Through the DIFC Academy and the Dubai Artificial Intelligence Academy, the DIFC continues to invest in developing a growing community of talent and competencies, which is a pivotal indicator of enhancing economic development and competitiveness in Dubai and the region.

The DIFC Academy witnessed the registration of a record number of 10,164 learners in training programs during the year 2025, bringing the total number of beneficiaries of the academy’s programs since its establishment to 51,620 people, which reflects the center’s commitment to supporting human capital and providing an advanced educational environment that meets the requirements of the modern financial sector.

In line with Dubai’s vision to establish leadership standards in the region and maintain its position at the forefront of the global financial scene, new regulations were proposed for variable capital companies, in addition to amendments to the Guarantee Law, Bankruptcy Law, and Employment Law, within the framework of the law amending the laws of the Dubai International Financial Center.

As the UAE’s only member of the Global Cross-border Privacy Rules Forum, DIFC is committed to developing consensual, comprehensive, responsive and reliable privacy frameworks, in line with the evolving needs of businesses and individuals around the world, and the National Strategy for the Digital Economy.

During the year 2025, it was announced that the Dubai International Financial Center has been chosen to host the annual meeting of the World Privacy Association in 2026, which reflects the center’s prestigious position and its leadership role in the field of data protection and privacy regulation at the region level.

In 2025, the Dubai International Financial Center hosted many initiatives aimed at building knowledge, promoting innovation and creativity, and developing the financial sector. These initiatives included the Dubai Artificial Intelligence Festival, which is the largest event during “Dubai Artificial Intelligence Week,” and the “Dubai FinTech Summit.” To attract companies, investments and capital to Dubai, the center also hosted specialized events in this sector, including the Middle East Alternative Investment Management Association Forum, the Middle East Hedge Fund Managers Summit, and the first preliminary meeting of the Future of the International Private Capital Market Conference.

The Dubai International Financial Center launched the “One Million Learners” initiative as part of the Centre’s “Sustainable Finance Catalyst Initiative”, which aims to train one million people and provide them with knowledge in the field of sustainability and sustainable finance by 2030.

A total of 99,084 people have participated in sustainability-related learning programs and initiatives since its launch.

The initiative is supported by a coalition of 32 partners, consisting of leading institutions from various sectors that share a commitment to advancing knowledge in the field of sustainability.

As the final development phase of the Gate District – DIFC nears completion, the DIFC continues to record exceptional demand for commercial space, as it operates at full operational capacity.

During 2025, the pace of construction has been accelerated to add 1.7 million square feet of commercial space scheduled for delivery in 2026 and 2027, with the first 600,000 square feet being ready for use by the end of February 2026.

To meet the growing demand and enhance Dubai’s position among the top four global financial centres, the new “Zabeel District” expansion in the Dubai International Financial Center reinforces the center’s role as a regional driver leading a qualitative transformation in the future of the global financial sector, as the expansion will add 17.7 million square feet of office, residential, hotel, commercial, cultural and educational space. This expansion will also contribute to consolidating the center’s position in the fields of arts, culture, restaurants and retail.

In addition to being one of the most prominent growth engines in the emirate until 2040, this expansion strengthens Dubai’s position as a major destination for business and a modern lifestyle for innovators and future makers in the financial sector.

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