The Dubai Financial Services Authority’s annual results for 2025 showed continued strong momentum in the Dubai International Financial Centre, as the authority registered and licensed 182 new companies during the year. This raised the total number of entities under its regulatory supervision to 1,050, marking a 16% increase compared with 2024.

The figures were included in the authority’s annual report, issued under the title “Leading the Future of Financial Markets”. The report highlights the development of the financial and regulatory environment in the center, as well as its growing role in strengthening Dubai’s position among the world’s leading financial hubs.

The growth covered several key financial sectors, including banking services, capital markets, wealth and asset management, insurance and financial technology. This reflects the diversity of companies and institutions operating within the Dubai International Financial Centre.

Dubai Achieves Its Highest-Ever Ranking

According to the report, Dubai continued to strengthen its presence on the global financial map. The emirate advanced to seventh place worldwide in the Global Financial Centers Index 39, issued in March 2026, achieving its highest ranking since the index was launched.

This progress reflects growing confidence among financial institutions and investors in Dubai, as well as in the regulatory framework that supports companies operating in the Dubai International Financial Centre according to clear international standards.

Fadel Al Ali, Chairman of the Dubai Financial Services Authority, said the authority continues to support the growing development of the Dubai International Financial Centre, in line with the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda and the DIFC 2030 Strategy. These plans aim to strengthen the emirate’s position among the world’s leading centers for finance, investment and innovation by 2033.

He explained that the authority’s regulatory ecosystem now includes 1,050 entities. These include a large number of global systemically important banks, along with a broad network of wealth and asset management firms, capital markets companies, banks, insurance and audit firms, and professional services providers.

Growth Reflects Market Confidence

Mark Steward, Chief Executive of the Dubai Financial Services Authority, said the growth achieved in 2025 confirms the strong confidence in the Dubai International Financial Centre and in Dubai as a whole. He noted that the expansion was both quantitative and qualitative across the centre’s financial ecosystem.

He added that this ecosystem is supported by an international regulatory environment based on risk assessment and supervised by the Dubai Financial Services Authority, helping to maintain market stability and strengthen investor confidence.

The authority continues to develop Dubai’s capital markets ecosystem through regulatory updates, infrastructure improvements and initiatives designed to increase market participation and enhance transparency and trust.

Bond and Sukuk Listings

New bond listings in the Dubai International Financial Centre reached a total value of 30.6 billion dollars in 2025, bringing total outstanding listings to 147.4 billion dollars.

The center also maintained its position as one of the world’s leading jurisdictions for sukuk, with listed sukuk reaching 107.9 billion dollars.

The over-the-counter trading market also recorded notable activity during the year, with trading value reaching 13 trillion dollars in the fourth quarter of 2025. This reflects the expanding scale of financial transactions within the center’s ecosystem.

Wealth and Asset Management

In wealth and asset management, the Dubai International Financial Centre continued to reinforce its position as a major platform for investment firms and funds. The number of licensed fund management companies rose to 121, while assets under management reached 176 billion dollars.

This performance reflects the United Arab Emirates’ growing status as a preferred destination for establishing and managing funds, supported by an advanced regulatory environment and strong connections with regional and global markets.

Across the wider sector, the Dubai International Financial Centre hosts more than 320 licensed wealth and asset management companies, with advisory assets totaling 220 billion dollars.

The center has also become one of the world’s top five hubs for hedge funds, with 87 funds registered there, including two of the largest funds globally.

Strong Performance in Banking

In banking services, the total consolidated balance sheet of banks operating in the Dubai International Financial Centre reached 251 billion dollars by the end of the fourth quarter of 2025, recording annual growth of 19%.

This figure represents a 195% increase compared with the end of 2015, reflecting the significant development achieved by the banking sector in the center over recent years.

Private banks also continued to expand their activities. Total advisory assets reached 103.8 billion dollars, with annual growth of 23%, while the customer base exceeded 14,000 clients. This further strengthens the center’s role in wealth management and private banking services.

Insurance Reaches Record Levels

The insurance sector in the Dubai International Financial Centre continued to grow in 2025, with a 15% increase in insurance-related entities. This supports the center’s position as an important regional platform for the sector.

By December 31, 2025, total gross written premiums reached record levels. Reinsurance companies and reinsurers recorded 4.24 billion dollars, while insurance brokers recorded 3.38 billion dollars.

DIFC Continues to Expand

The 2025 results confirm that the Dubai International Financial Centre continues to expand its financial and regulatory ecosystem steadily, supported by Dubai’s global position, the diversity of its financial sectors and rising confidence among companies and investors.