The insurance and reinsurance sector in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) saw robust growth, with 135 related firms now operating in the ecosystem, increasing 8% from 125 in 1H2024, says the DIFC in a statement.
Gross written premiums reached $3.5bn in 2024, compared to $2.6bn a year earlier – a significant 35% increase.
DIFC’s best-ever performance for the first half of a year
The insurance and reinsurance sector contributed to the DIFC's best-ever performance for the first half of a year, reinforcing its pivotal role in driving the future of finance and contributing to the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
In the first six months of 2025, DIFC saw a record number of new entrants, bringing the total number of active registered companies to 7,700, up from 6,153 in 1H2024 - a 25% year-on-year increase. 1,081 new active registered companies joined DIFC between January and June 2025, a 32% increase on the corresponding period in 2024. The number of professionals working in DIFC rose to 47,901, marking a significant 9% increase from 43,787 a year earlier.
Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the UAE, and president of DIFC, said, “Dubai has entered a new and greater phase of growth, and these results highlight the competitiveness, attractiveness, and global confidence it enjoys. We firmly believe the future holds even more opportunities, and we will continue to strengthen DIFC’s capabilities and its ecosystems that foster innovation, agility, and business growth.”
DIFC continues to advance its position as the region’s largest regulated financial services ecosystem. Overall, 980 entities are now regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), the independent regulator for business undertaken from or within DIFC, up 17% year-on-year from 2024. Total financial services authorisations grew 28% year-on-year, reaching 78 in 1H2025 compared to 61 in 1H2024.
Banking and wealth management
A total of 289 companies operate in the banking and capital market cluster, up from 247 a year ago, a substantial 17% growth rate.
Dubai is also home to the highest concentration of private wealth in any Middle Eastern city, according to Henley & Partners. The number of firms in the sector increased to 440, up from 370 in 1H2024, growing 19% year-on-year. The Centre is now home to more than 85 hedge funds, soaring by 72% over the last 12 months and including 69 billion-dollar funds. Over 10,000 funds are being managed or marketed from DIFC.
Meanwhile, the number of entities associated with family businesses operating in DIFC has risen to 1,035, up from 600 a year ago, marking a 73% increase. The number of foundations in DIFC has accelerated to 842, up from 548 in H1 2024, a 54% year-on-year increase.