Dubai International Financial Centre key to Dubai’s economy

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading global financial centre in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA), has recorded strong financial results for 2024, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a region’s financial services capital.

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The centre now houses 6,990 active companies, a 95 per cent increase from 3,583 in 2023. DIFC also recorded 663 new registrations in 2024, the highest annual figure to date, reflecting historic 95 per cent growth.

DIFC’s total revenue for 2024 reached Dhs1.78 billion (US$484 million), marking the largest annual increase since the centre’s inception and a 37 per cent rise from its record-breaking performance in 2023. Operating profit surged to Dhs1.33 billion ($363 million), up 55 per cent.

Regional wealth is no longer defined by borders. As clients become more globally connected, the expectations they place on financial institutions are also changing. Longevity, portability, and regulatory transparency are taking precedence over products alone. For firms with deep regional roots, this shift calls for a recalibration, not just in what they offer, but in how and where they operate.

The DIFC, regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), has emerged as a crucial platform for firms navigating these demands. Its framework enables cross-border advisory models that are both compliant and scalable-qualities that increasingly define trust in the financial space.

The Continental Group, a financial services provider with three decades of experience in the Middle East, is one such firm adapting to this shift through its DFSA-licensed entity, CFS DIFC Limited.