Dubai: Global financial leaders have reaffirmed confidence in the UAE’s economic fundamentals and Dubai’s financial ecosystem, as the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) highlighted the strength, resilience, and long-term outlook of its platform.
His Excellency Essa Kazim, Governor of DIFC, said that despite regional uncertainty, the Centre’s strength lies in its community and shared confidence in long-term growth.
“What defines us is a shared belief in long-term opportunities that Dubai and the UAE offer to access the 77 markets across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia,” Kazim said.
His Excellency Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer of DIFC Authority, said firms across banking and financial technology sectors continue to see Dubai as a strategic gateway for regional expansion.
“From global banks to FinTech disruptors, firms operating within DIFC say the current environment has reinforced the strategic importance of Dubai as a gateway to growth across the region,” Amiri said.
DIFC reported that Dubai ranked seventh globally in the Global Financial Centres Index in March, its highest position to date, reflecting sustained international confidence in the emirate’s financial sector.
The Centre hosts 290 banks and capital markets firms, including 17 of the world’s 19 global systemically important banks, reinforcing its role as a bridge between East and West.
Executives from major global institutions including Citi, Julius Baer, and Standard Chartered highlighted DIFC’s role in maintaining liquidity, enabling cross-border transactions, and connecting investors with regional opportunities.
In the insurance sector, gross written premiums in DIFC have doubled to more than $4.2 billion over the past four years, supported by a growing ecosystem of insurers and risk management firms.
Wealth and asset management activity remains strong, with Dubai hosting the highest concentration of wealth in the Middle East and more than 500 firms in the sector operating within DIFC.
Financial institutions and asset managers said long-term fundamentals such as regulatory stability, global connectivity, and business-friendly policies continue to attract investors and support growth.
Momentum is also building in digital assets and financial technology, with companies expanding operations in DIFC to leverage regulatory clarity, access to capital, and advanced infrastructure.
DIFC said the continued expansion of global banks, insurers, asset managers, and FinTech firms reinforces its position as a resilient and forward-looking financial centre, supporting capital flows, innovation, and sustainable economic growth.