Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is the financial hub for the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, providing a world-class platform connecting this region’s markets with the economies of Europe, Asia and the Americas. It also is facilitating the growth in South-South trade and investment flows. An onshore, international financial centre, DIFC provides a stable, mature and secure base for financial institutions to develop their wholesale businesses. The Centre offers all the elements found in the world’s most successful financial industry ecosystems, including an independent regulator, an independent judicial system with a common-law framework, a global financial exchange, inspiring architecture, powerful and enabling infrastructure, support services and a vibrant business community. The infrastructure within the district features ultra-modern office space, retail outlets, cafes and restaurants, art galleries, residential apartments, public green areas and hotels. DIFC is today the largest cluster for international financial services between Singapore and Europe. The business and financial services community in DIFC represents a wide cross section of the world’s leading players. Many of which have chosen the centre as the base for their regional headquarters. The geographic diversity of the Centre’s total number of regulated companies reaffirms DIFC’s growing status as a global financial centre catering to the region. Approximately 36% of regulated companies come from Europe, 27% from the Middle East, 16% from North America, 11% from Asia, and 10% from the rest of the world. Since its establishment, DIFC has grown not just in size but also in the sophistication and depth of financial activity carried out from the Centre. Innovative legislative initiatives that addressed specific industry needs and the growing requirements of financial services across the region were key drivers of growth. DIFC clinets include:   21 of the world’s top 25 banks 11 of the world’s top 20 largest money managers 6 of the world’s 10 largest insurance companies 6 of the top 10 global law firms