Wealth and Asset Management.

Dubai is home to the highest concentration of private wealth across the Middle East, and DIFC continues to reaffirm the Emirate’s reputation as a global centre for private and family wealth. The Centre is also a neutral location to access and manage sovereign wealth across the region.

The Centre has firmly established itself as the leading hub for wealth and asset management within the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region, underpinned by a robust regulatory framework, a strategic geographic location, and a dynamic ecosystem that fosters growth and innovation. 

DIFC continues to deliver on its value proposition as a gateway to emerging regional markets, providing companies access to the region’s vast pools of private capital. The wealth management sector in DIFC covers a diverse range of financial activities, attracting numerous international and regional firms, with a range of market entry options available for wealth management companies looking to set up operations in DIFC.
 

Characterised by its diversity and sophistication, DIFC’s asset management ecosystem covers a broad spectrum of asset classes, including equities, fixed income, real estate, and alternative investments. Catering to a wide array of clients, from institutional investors to high-net-worth individuals, asset management companies in DIFC offer tailored solutions that meet their specific investment objectives. 

The sector also benefits significantly from DIFC’s world-class infrastructure and regulatory environment, which ensures transparency, stability and security. Asset managers in DIFC can access new growth opportunities emerging from wealth inflows into Dubai, as a growing number of millionaires, centi-millionaires, and family offices move to the Emirate.

DIFC has become a preferred jurisdiction for fund and portfolio managers seeking to access regional and international markets. The Centre offers various fund structures, accommodating different investment strategies and investor profiles, while the Centre’s strategic location enables fund management companies to tap into the growing wealth in the MEASA region and capital from other parts of the world. 

With Dubai becoming a premier hub for wealth and investment, DIFC’s role in driving and sustaining the growth of the wealth and asset management sector has become increasingly significant. The Centre’s robust regulatory framework further supports both conventional and Sharia-compliant funds, providing a versatile platform for fund management activities.

DIFC’s private equity landscape is vibrant, with numerous firms engaged in buyouts and venture capital investments, in line with broad growth in alternative investment classes. These firms play a crucial role in driving economic growth by providing capital to promising businesses, while DIFC’s ecosystem facilitates deal-making and networking, bringing together investors, entrepreneurs, and advisers. 

Private equity firms are demonstrating growing interest in the region as new firms continue to choose DIFC to establish local and regional offices. The Centre’s legal and regulatory framework provides further security through a secure and transparent environment for private equity transactions. 

DIFC has positioned itself as a burgeoning hub for hedge funds, attracting significant interest from global asset managers. The Centre's appeal lies in its robust regulatory framework, strategic location, and business-friendly environment, fostering a growth-enabling ecosystem for hedge fund operations. 

With a growing number of pure play hedge funds and hedge fund-related firms establishing a presence in DIFC, the Centre is rapidly becoming a preferred destination for those seeking to capitalise on opportunities within the MEASA region. The Centre's commitment to innovation and its comprehensive financial infrastructure further solidify its status as a competitive and attractive jurisdiction.
DIFC has also launched the DIFC Funds Centre, developing a unique proposition for fund managers as well as boutique asset management firms who seek flexible working solutions, accelerated time to market, and networking opportunities to drive growth and scale.

The Centre’s partnerships with the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) and Standards Board for Alternative Investments (SBAI) also reaffirm its commitment towards supporting the alternative investment and hedge fund sectors through cross-border collaboration.

DIFC’s insurance sector is a vital component of its financial ecosystem, encompassing a wide range of activities from traditional insurance and reinsurance to captive insurance. The Centre’s regulatory framework further provides a stable and secure environment for insurance businesses, attracting both regional and international players. 

DIFC is a leading global hub for insurance and reinsurance, and offers the ideal environment to set up your insurance company in Dubai. The Centre’s insurance ecosystem embraces global talent, technical expertise, international underwriting standards and a robust capacity to provide essential risk management solutions.

The insurance and reinsurance companies within DIFC include carriers, third-party administrators (TPAs), captive managers and captive insurance companies, reinsurance brokers and aggregators, Managing General Agents (MGAs) and underwriting agents, and Lloyd’s service companies and coverholders.
DIFC also hosts the Dubai World Insurance Congress – the largest gathering in the region of insurance and reinsurance professionals.