Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is maintaining strong growth momentum, supported by an expanding footprint of US companies in the region, as assets under management reached USD700bn in 2024 — a 58 per cent increase compared with 2023.
DIFC Authority CEO Arif Amiri noted that US firms now represent about 7 per cent of all financial services companies operating in the centre since its inception in 2004, reflecting Dubai’s growing attractiveness to American investors.
Amiri’s remarks followed a Dubai Chambers delegation visit to the United States, which included the Dubai Business Forum – USA and a programme of engagements with public- and private-sector stakeholders.
He stated that Dubai and the DIFC Authority provide US businesses and investors with a strategic gateway to the MEASA region, encompassing 77 countries, approximately 3.8bn people, and a combined GDP estimated at USD11.2 trillion.
Amiri described the DIFC — the region’s largest financial hub — as a “unique platform” linking global enterprises to rapidly expanding markets.
Dubai’s reputation as a centre for skilled talent and innovation continues to enhance its appeal among US companies looking to broaden their regional presence, he added.
He further noted that Dubai has evolved into a global hub for alternative investments, giving US hedge funds the benefit of regulatory clarity, a robust legal framework, and close access to emerging markets.
Nearly two-thirds of hedge funds operating in the DIFC originate from the United States and the United Kingdom, including several of the world’s most prominent firms.
