{"id":70647,"date":"2026-06-25T13:40:29","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T09:40:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.dubaicityguide.com\/site\/?p=70647"},"modified":"2026-06-25T13:40:29","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T09:40:29","slug":"the-dfsa-records-third-consecutive-year-of-double-digit-registration-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.dubaicityguide.com\/site\/the-dfsa-records-third-consecutive-year-of-double-digit-registration-growth\/","title":{"rendered":"The DFSA Records Third Consecutive Year Of Double-Digit Registration Growth"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Dubai<\/a> Financial Services Authority (DFSA), the\u00a0independent banking, financial services, and markets\u00a0regulator of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC),\u00a0today published\u00a0its\u00a02025\u00a0Annual Report:\u00a0Shaping the Financial Markets of the Future<\/i>.<\/strong>\u00a02025 marked a third consecutive year of double-digit growth across DIFC\u2019s financial ecosystem: the DFSA licensed and registered 182 new firms \u2013 a 16% increase on 2024 \u2013 bringing the total number of regulated entities to 1,050, spanning banking, capital markets, wealth and asset management, insurance, and fintech.\u00a0Since the close of the reporting period\u00a0on 31 December 2025, Dubai has advanced to seventh place globally in the Global Financial Centres Index (39)1\u00a0published\u00a0in March 2026 its highest-ever ranking\u00a0reflecting the sustained international confidence in the Emirate\u2019s economic strength, regulatory environment,\u00a0and long-term strategy.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The\u00a0report\u00a0comes amid continued momentum\u00a0within\u00a0DIFC\u00a0and\u00a0Dubai\u2019s financial sector:\u00a0building on\u00a0DIFC\u2019s\u00a0position\u00a0as the leading international financial centre across\u00a0the\u00a0Middle East,\u00a0Africa, and South Asia\u00a0(MEASA)\u00a0region,\u00a0Dubai\u00a0continues to\u00a0advance its ambition of becoming a global top four hub for finance, investment, and innovation by 2033 under the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) and DIFC 2030 Strategy.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fadel\u00a0Al Ali, Chairman, DFSA\u00a0said:\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cThe Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) continues to support\u00a0the rapid growth of\u00a0Dubai\u00a0International\u00a0Financial\u00a0Centre\u00a0(DIFC), in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) and DIFC 2030 strategies, which seek to position the Emirate as a global top four hub for finance, investment, and innovation by 2033.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

In\u00a02025, we\u00a0welcomed 182 regulated entities into our\u00a0jurisdiction, bringing the total number to 1,050\u00a0\u2013 our third consecutive year of double-digit growth. Today, this dynamic and thriving ecosystem includes\u00a0the vast majority of\u00a0global systemically important banks (G-SIBs), as well as an extensive network of wealth and asset managers, capital markets\u00a0firms, banks, insurers, auditors, and professional services firms.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

The recent Global Financial Centres Index placing Dubai seventh globally \u2013 its highest-ever position \u2013 reflects the strength of what we are building together.\u00a0Our\u00a02025\u00a0Annual Report:<\/i>\u00a0Shaping the Financial Markets of the Future<\/i>,\u00a0reflects\u00a0our shared national vision of developing the United Arab Emirates, Dubai, and\u00a0DIFC\u00a0into the world\u2019s centre of choice for financial services; a place that does not just help to lead the future of the industry, but actively shapes it.\u201d<\/i>\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mark Steward, Chief Executive, DFSA stated:\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cAs outlined within our\u00a0Annual Report: Shaping the Financial Markets of the Future,\u00a02025\u00a0saw a third consecutive year of\u00a0double digit\u00a0growth\u00a0in\u00a0Dubai\u2019s International Financial Centre.\u00a0This signals\u00a0continued\u00a0strong\u00a0confidence in\u00a0DIFC and\u00a0Dubai,\u00a0and a\u00a0broadening and\u00a0deepening of the ecosystem,\u00a0underscored\u00a0by the\u00a0DFSA\u2019s\u00a0risk-based, international\u00a0regulatory environment.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

This\u00a0momentum\u00a0has continued into 2026 against\u00a0a backdrop of ongoing\u00a0global\u00a0uncertainty.\u00a0In times of uncertainty, investors\u00a0look for\u00a0jurisdictions\u00a0like DIFC\u00a0with\u00a0strong risk-based regulatory frameworks and\u00a0approaches,\u00a0\u00a0institutional\u00a0depth, and long-term strategic credibility. The response\u00a0over the last months,\u00a0from my DFSA colleagues, as well as our stakeholders\u00a0in both the government and from the banking, insurance, and financial sectors, has been outstanding as we continue to lay the groundwork for the future of financial markets.\u201d<\/i>\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Driving\u00a0sustainable,\u00a0scalable,\u00a0and\u00a0high-quality\u00a0growth\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The report outlines\u00a0strong performance\u00a0across the financial services sector, with sustained growth in licensed firms, market participants,\u00a0and financial activity throughout 2025.\u00a0The DFSA\u00a0continued to attract high-quality institutions and foster an environment that supports long-term, sustainable expansion across banking, insurance, capital markets, fintech,\u00a0and wealth\u00a0and asset\u00a0management.<\/p>\n

Authorisation\u00a0activity remained robust,\u00a0with\u00a0182\u00a0new firms licenced\u00a0and registered, bringing the total to\u00a01,050\u00a0regulated entities \u2013\u00a0a\u00a016% increase from 2024\u00a0\u2013\u00a0reflecting\u00a0strong\u00a0and sustained demand\u00a0from international and regional firms\u00a0seeking to\u00a0establish\u00a0operations in\u00a0DIFC. The report\u00a0also\u00a0highlights continued diversification across the financial ecosystem and growing\u00a0recognition of\u00a0DIFC\u00a0as a gateway to regional and global markets.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Key sector highlights:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n