UAE, Dubai: Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has received the ‘International Finance Centre’ award at the WealthBriefing European Awards 2018, reinforcing its position as the leading international financial hub in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region and one of the world’s top ten financial centres.

The WealthBriefing European Awards are organised by leading media and business intelligence service WealthBriefing, and judged by a panel of trusted industry experts and advisors. These prestigious awards recognise excellence within the wealth management and family office industry. The awards ceremony was held on 26 April 2018 at the City of London’s Guildhall.

Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Office of DIFC Authority, said: “We are delighted to have received this prestigious award – another highlight in DIFC’s track record of success. 2017 was a year of record growth, and we have made great strides towards achieving our 2024 goals in line with Dubai’s dynamic ongoing development. In 2018, we will continue this exciting journey, providing the best-in-class services and infrastructure to our thriving community.”

DIFC offers a highly successful wealth management platform, and recently announced a series of strategic initiatives as part of Dubai’s economy-boosting initiatives, aimed at catalysing economic growth in the emirate and cementing its global status as a competitive business destination. One of these initiatives is expected to increase financial investments in Dubai and boost Dubai’s wealth management capabilities, with 195 Wealth and Assets Management firms currently operating from DIFC.

The Centre has continued to expand and improve its wealth management platform with two new laws enacted in March: the Trust Law, which provides an appropriate environment for the operation of trusts in DIFC, and the Foundations Law, a completely new regime to provide greater certainty and flexibility for private wealth management and charitable institutions in line with international best practice.

These important developments are in line with the recommendations of DIFC’s Wealth Management Working Group and are the product of global benchmarking and extensive consultation with industry professionals and family business networks both regionally and globally.

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About Dubai International Financial Centre

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is one of the world’s top ten financial centres, and the leading financial hub for the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.  The Centre provides a world-class platform connecting the region’s markets with the economies of Europe, Asia and the Americas and facilitates growth in South-South trade and investment. An onshore, international financial centre, DIFC offers a stable, mature and secure base for financial institutions to develop their wholesale businesses.

The Centre offers all the elements found in the world’s most successful financial industry ecosystems, including an independent regulator and judicial system with a common-law framework, a global financial exchange, inspiring architecture, powerful, enabling support services and a vibrant business community. The infrastructure within the district features ultra-modern office space, retail outlets, cafes and restaurants, art galleries, residential apartments, public green areas and hotels.

Located midway between the global financial centres of New York, London in the West and Singapore, Hong Kong in the East, DIFC (GMT +4) fills a vital time-zone gap with a workday that bridges the market and business hours of financial centres in both Asia and North America.

In 2015, DIFC launched its 2024 growth strategy, a blueprint for the next decade of growth of the financial hub. This strategy aims to stimulate trade and investment flows along the South-South economic corridor encompassing the Middle East, Africa, Southern Asia and Latin America. 

Currently, 1,853 active registered companies operate from the Centre, with a combined workforce of 22,338 professionals. 

DIFC continues to pursue expansion into new services and sectors within the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region, an area comprising over 72 countries with an approximate population of 3 billion and nominal GDP of US$7.4 trillion.

For further information, please visit our website: www.difc.ae , or follow us on Twitter @DIFC.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Hajar Al Ketbi

Dubai International Financial Centre Authority

Vice President - PR, Corporate Communications & Sustainability

Tel: +971 4 362 2440

Email: Hajar.AlKetbi@difc.ae 

Joudi Issa

Brunswick Group

Tel: +971 4 560 9600

Email: DIFC@brunswickgroup.com  

© Press Release 2018