The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) says it has achieved its 2024 Strategy growth targets three years ahead of schedule, after seeing a record 996 company registrations last year.
The 36% YoY growth in company numbers is triple the average reported by the DIFC across the last decade.
The total number of active registered firms operating in DIFC also increased by 25% to 3,644 entities last year, up from 2,919 in 2020.
A total of 1,124 financial and innovation related entities are now active and operating within DIFC, increasing by 23%, versus 915 in 2020.
Notable firms added by the DIFC in 2021 included Dual Corporate Risks Limited, General Reinsurance AG and Howden Insurance Brokers Limited.
Significant growth was been achieved across business sectors, including banking, capital markets, wealth and asset management and professional services.
Furthermore, in 2021, DIFC recorded its highest ever annual revenue and operating profit.
Revenue increased by 16% to AED 897 million year-on-year versus AED 774 million in 2020, and up by 7% from AED 838 million in 2019.
Operating profit for 2021 likewise reached AED 573 million, an increase of 26% versus AED 457 million in 2020 and up by 13% compared to AED 510 million in 2019.
