DIFC says it has three times more wealth managers than other leading financial centres.
Dubai: The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) now hosts more than 600 wealth and asset management firms, three times the number of comparable firms in other financial centres, according to the centre.
The figure was announced on the third day of the inaugural Dubai Future Finance Week, held under the patronage of Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and President of DIFC.
The milestone supports the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which aims to position the emirate among the world’s four leading financial centres.
The event also featured the Future Islamic Finance Forum, which brought together more than 1,000 senior stakeholders from over 50 countries. Discussions focused on cross-border liquidity, regulatory alignment and values-based capital deployment.
DIFC highlighted the sector’s growth potential, with the global Islamic finance industry projected to reach $9.31 trillion by 2030 and Islamic fintech expected to expand towards $180 billion in 2026.
The centre also announced initiatives focused on talent development and technology. DIFC Academy introduced learning pathways through its Centre for Global Islamic Finance, aiming to reach more than 3,000 learners by 2031. The programmes will cater to participants at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, in collaboration with academic institutions and industry partners.
Big names in DIFC
Global private banks and wealth managers have continued to expand their presence at the centre.
J.P. Morgan Private Bank opened a branch in DIFC on November 2, regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority. The bank more than tripled its Dubai-based private banking team over the past 12 months as it prepared for the authorisation.
Swiss bank Julius Baer has operated in DIFC since 2004 and managed close to Dh2.51 trillion in client assets at the end of June. UBS operates a wealth management platform in Dubai that now handles former Credit Suisse private banking activities, while Pictet upgraded its presence from a representative office to a full DIFC branch.
Janus Henderson Investors, Prospera Wealth Management and RV Capital Management were among the firms that established operations in the first quarter of 2026. DIFC registered 775 new companies during the same period, a 62 per cent increase compared with the first quarter of the previous year.
Salmaan Jaffery, Chief Business Development Officer of DIFC Authority, said the week was centred on collaboration.
“The future of finance will be shaped through collaboration between the global institutions, investors, policymakers and industry leaders who are driving change across our sector,” he said.
He added that DIFC had an important role in turning discussions into tangible progress by connecting global expertise, capital and opportunities.
