Dubai leads Middle East in global financial rankings

Dubai is the only financial centre in the Middle East to be ranked among the top 10 globally, according to a London-based management company’s latest report.

The emirate recorded its highest ever ranking in the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI), climbing to seventh place in the world, Z/Yen Group said.

The ranking, which assesses 137 financial centres, positions Dubai alongside London, New York City and Singapore.  

Last month, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) reported that profits increased by almost a third to AED1.16 billion ($316 million) in 2025. The number of companies registered at DIFC rose 28 percent to 8,844, despite a year of US tariffs, global conflicts and rising tension in the Middle East.

The financial centre is home to more than 1,052 regulated companies, including 557 wealth and asset management firms and 102 hedge funds – a sector that grew by 37 percent in 2025.

In January, DIFC announced a AED100 billion expansion that will nearly triple its size by 2040. The DIFC Zabeel District will add 17.7 million sq ft of gross floor area to the free zone.

Further reading:

• Gulf leaders project resilience but warn of global fallout from war
• Carry on building: UAE developers dig in despite war
• DIFC reports strong 2025 growth despite geopolitics

The region has been facing geopolitical turmoil since the US-Israel war with Iran started on February 28. 

The Dubai stock market has fallen nearly 10 percent following the outbreak of the Iran conflict. In early March, DIFC advised companies to enable remote working for their employees.

UAE companies across retail, technology and media are moving to cut costs as revenues come under pressure from the war.