In a milestone update on the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) reported that it now regulates more than 1,000 entities and signalled it will evolve the DIFC funds regime to retain “best-in-class” status as the centre scales. The release also reported that DIFC has surpassed 8,000 active registered companies and employs 48,000 professionals. It stated that 289 licensed banks and capital markets companies, including 27 of the world’s 29 globally systemically important banks, manage approximately USD 240bn of banking assets from DIFC, up from USD 80bn ten years ago, and that DIFC Courts have recorded more than AED 17.5bn in total claim values year to date; Dubai was also noted as having reached 11th place in the Global Financial Centre Index. No timeline or implementation details were provided for the planned funds-regime changes, which were framed as supporting DIFC’s continued positioning for hedge funds, wealth and asset management, and alternative investment firms.
Dubai Financial Services Authority 2025-10-20
Dubai Financial Services Authority plans to evolve DIFC funds regime as regulated entities surpass 1,000
The Dubai Financial Services Authority now regulates over 1,000 entities in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and plans to evolve the DIFC funds regime to maintain its "best-in-class" status. DIFC has surpassed 8,000 active registered companies, with 289 licensed banks and capital markets companies managing approximately USD 240bn in banking assets. No timeline was provided for the funds-regime changes, aimed at supporting hedge funds, wealth and asset management, and alternative investment firms.