DUBAI, July 28 (Xinhua) - The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) on Monday announced its best-ever first-half performance, fueled by a sharp rise in new companies, expanded employment, and notable growth across financial sectors.
In a statement, DIFC said the number of active registered companies in the center rose to 7,700, marking a 25 percent year-on-year increase, while the total workforce reached 47,901, up 9 percent compared to the first half of 2024.
Fintech continued to be the leading sector, expanding by 28 percent to 1,388 companies. Meanwhile, entities linked to family businesses surged 73 percent to reach 1,035.
The statement also noted significant growth in the insurance and wealth management sectors. Gross written premiums in the insurance and reinsurance sectors at DIFC surpassed 3.5 billion U.S. dollars, and the number of companies in asset management reached 440.
DIFC now hosts over 980 regulated entities, with 78 new financial services licenses issued in the first six months of 2025, a 28 percent increase from the same period last year.
Officials said the performance reaffirms Dubai's commitment to shaping the future of finance both regionally and globally, in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, and its goals in innovation, education, and sustainable governance. ■
