Driving the

Future of
Finance
January 2024
The future is here.

The future is here.

DIFC – The leading Financial Centre and Fintech Hub in Middle East, Africa, South Asia (MEASA)

DIFC, the first Financial Free Zone, was an unprecedented innovation…

“A physical, legal and
regulatory carve-out
from Dubai & UAE”
The Gate &
DIFC Innovation Hub Precinct Bldgs.
DIFC Gate
Avenue

Built Area (sq.ft.) DIFC Gate

Academy Village
25.6 Mn+
Equivalent to
~450 football fields

Confidential date: 03/01/2024 2

DIFC – The leading Financial Centre and Fintech Hub in Middle East, Africa, South Asia (MEASA)

… with the purpose of unlocking growth by providing international standards

DIFC has become the deepest Financial Centre … enabled by a legal and regulatory
between London and Singapore … carve-out providing global standards

DIFC Authority
Workforce Firms Provides an independent legal framework,

39,000+ 4,900+
based on international standards of justice
and English common law.

Dubai Financial Services Authority

Regulates all financial services activities
Financial Fintech & carried out in and from the DIFC.
Regulated Innovation
630+ 810+ DIFC Courts
Administers an independent English
common law judiciary.

Balance Sheet AUM Free Zone

Offers benefits including 100% foreign
$198Bn $164Bn
1
ownership, no restriction on capital
repatriation, tax advantages.

• 1 Total AUM managed from the DIFC; total size of WAM stands at $440+ Bn in the DIFC Confidential date: 03/01/2024 3
• AUM and BS Source: DFSA, DIFCA Strategy Analysis
DIFC – The leading Financial Centre and Fintech Hub in Middle East, Africa, South Asia (MEASA)

DIFC is the leading Global Financial Centre and Innovation Hub in MEASA …

The Global Financial

Centres Index
#1 Global Financial “DIFC is one of the world’s most advanced financial centres, and the leading
Centre in MEASA financial hub for the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region”

A fully digital Business Launchpad enabling over A Regulatory Launchpad trusted by over 630+
4,900+ companies with over 39,000+ employees financial regulated institutions

Multi-National Professional Family Banking and Wealth and Asset (Re)Insurance

Companies Services Businesses Capital Markets Management

not shared
due to privacy

1,000+ 230+ 200+ 320+ 90+

The largest and most enabling Fintech and Innovation cluster across MEASA with over 810+ companies
Fintech Innovation Venture Studio Corporate Innovation Money Services Venture Digital Assets and Crypto
Capital/Debt

Digital Lab Launchpad

Confidential date: 03/01/2024 4

DIFC – The leading Financial Centre and Fintech Hub in Middle East, Africa, South Asia (MEASA)

Dubai is powered by visionary leadership shaping future economies …

#1 in MEASA in the Innovative Cities Index 2023

Strategic collaboration with public and private The Middle East’s largest district
sector partners to make Dubai one of the dedicated to developing new economies
world’s foremost future cities. (DFF, DIFC and DWTC part).

1st ministry in the world dedicated to create Center aiming to bring together
policies for an A.I. and Blockchain friendly blockchain thought leaders, developers,
ecosystem in Dubai and UAE. investors, and educators.

To transform Dubai into a smart city and a To become a global investment destination
global leader in digital innovation and a leading hub for innovation and
entrepreneurship

Dubai Economic Agenda D33

to double the size of Dubai's economy over the Development initiatives to drive changes
next decade and to consolidate its position across social, economic and development
among the top three global cities. The agenda policies for generations to come.
includes 100 transformational projects.

Confidential date: 03/01/2024 5

DIFC – The leading Financial Centre and Fintech Hub in Middle East, Africa, South Asia (MEASA)

… and establishing the leading global talent, business and lifestyle hub
The leading talent Hub, business gateway, growth platform, and lifestyle destination in the Middle
East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA)

Regional Talent Hub Leading Business Gateway

#2 #1 $13 Bn
globally in attracting talents in INSEAD ease of doing business in MENA while filling FDI capital inflow
Global Talent Competitiveness index 2022 time-zone gap between East & West into Dubai in 2022

Golden Visa Program Leading Growth Platform

The scheme admits foreign talents for 10 years
(renewable) while offering exclusive benefits. It is
$9.5 Tr 70%
combined GDP of the MEASA region of Fortune 500 companies
open to investors, entrepreneurs, scientists,
have their regional head
exceptional students, and frontline heroes
offices in Dubai

Regional Innovation Hub Leading lifestyle destination

#1 #1 #1
in MEASA cities and 14th
globally in the regionally and 5thin the world to live, work, in the global index for
Innovative Cities Index 2023 invest and visit in the World's Best Cities air connectivity
report 2023

Source: WEF Ease of Doing Business 2022; Dubai Statistics Center; World Bank Data; Dubai FDI Monitor; Global Finance Magazine, the Global Prosperity Index 2023 6
DIFC – The leading Financial Centre and Fintech Hub in Middle East, Africa, South Asia (MEASA)

From Dubai, businesses can build and scale regionally and globally
3-hour flight radius

Filling the time-zone gap

London between the leading
-4 hours financial centers of the
Strategic location making
West and East
markets of 2+ Bn people
accessible

DUBAI

150+ direct connections

to global destinations +4 hours
Singapore
Confidential date: 03/01/2024 7
DIFC – The leading Financial Centre and Fintech Hub in Middle East, Africa, South Asia (MEASA)

DIFC growth rests on traditional finance as well as future of finance

Vision: Driving the Future of Finance
Purpose: Job creation and diversification of Dubai economy

Future of Finance
Core
Growth Wave 1 Growth Wave 2 - Growth Wave 3 - Strategy 2030
“Establish Dubai as a leading Strategy 2024 “Unlock the Future of Finance”
Global Financial Centre” “Deepen
the Core” 4,900+
810+
Total firms
Core & Future of Finance
2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 22 23 24 2026 2028 2030
Dubai Future Dubai Future
DFD Fund
Foundation District (DFD)
Fintech Innovation Venture Studio
DSFWG1 …
Hive Hub Launchpad

Money Tokens Crypto

Services VC2 VD3
39,000+ 15,000
Total Workforce
Core & Future of Finance 2,500+ 40,000
300

2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 22 23 24 2026 2028 2030
1 Dubai Sustainable Finance Working Group 2 Venture Capital regime 3 Debt Funds regime Confidential date: 03/01/2024 8
DIFC – The leading Financial Centre and Fintech Hub in Middle East, Africa, South Asia (MEASA)

DIFC is the leading Fintech and Innovation Hub in MEASA

Innovation License
Innovation Testing License
and Incentives
(Regulatory Sandbox)

810+ Startups 200+ Startups USD 1,500/year 20+ Fintech

based in DIFC having 90% subsidised
accelerated in programme
raised $19Bn up to 4 years

2,500+ Talent USD 530+ million $270 Mn Future Clear exit path
working from the hub raised by Hive cohorts District Fund to unrestricted license

Confidential date: 03/01/2024 9

DIFC – The leading Financial Centre and Fintech Hub in Middle East, Africa, South Asia (MEASA)

DIFC Innovation Offerings

Innovation License Ai & Web 3.0 License Innovation Holding License Venture Studio License

Tailored for tech companies, 200+

Empowering Startups
businesses at A commercial license A commercial license
offering significant discounts the cuttingaccelerated
edge of digital offered to all innovation offered to all venture studios
and incentives for growth. transformation and firms to set up a Holding that incubate new business
decentralized technologies. Company that holds IP ideas/ventures for limited
assets and other innovation time periods to test the MVP
firms. of such businesses.

USD 530+ million

Starting at USD Starting atHive
raised by USDcohorts Starting at USD Starting at USD
1,500 1,500 1,000 25,000

Facilitating efficient DIFC Studio License, a

90% subsidies offered Tailored for businesses
business structures for Global first. A new
across commercial specializing in ai,
innovative enterprises, commercial license and
license, real estate and decentralized
ensuring flexibility and legal framework tailored
visas. applications, and
scalability. to Corporate Innovation
blockchain technologies.
and Venture Studios.

Confidential date: 03/01/2024 10

DIFC – The leading Financial Centre and Fintech Hub in Middle East, Africa, South Asia (MEASA)

DIFC is home to some of the largest global and regional FinTech & Innovation
International players Regional players
Raised $100 Mn+ Raised $10 Mn+ Total: $1.2 Bn+

Raised $5 – $10 Mn Total: $43 Mn+

Raised $10 – $100 Mn

Raised $1 – $5 Mn Total: $48 Mn+

Raised $1 – $10 Mn Raised up to $1 Mn Total: $6.6 Mn+

Confidential date: 03/01/2024 11

DIFC – The leading Financial Centre and Fintech Hub in Middle East, Africa, South Asia (MEASA)

DIFC’s innovation efforts and initiatives are unparalleled

DIFC Innovation Hub Dubai Future District Fund DIFC Launchpad Leap by DIFC

• Launched the DIFC
innovation hub in Gate
Avenue in 2021
• The largest cluster of Fintech
and Innovation companies
in MENA
• Dedicated innovation
building to open by Q3-2023
• Launched the Dubai Future
District fund with a size of AED
1 Bn with an aim to invest in
the startups and funds that
power Dubai's future growth
• In total of 11 direct
investments and 9 fund of
fund investments
• Announced in March 2021 the
launch of the world’s first
venture studio platform for
UbiFi1 to create 200 ventures
and 8,000 jobs
• The initiative seeks to develop a
strong venture building model
that promotes the growth of
innovative start-ups and scale-
ups in the region
• Leap, the DIFC digital
platform was envisioned to
create a value-add platform
for the DIFC companies and
beyond
• It enables the +5,000 DIFC
companies and 40,0000
employees to accelerate their
business in a safer, easier,
faster, and cost-effective way

Confidential date: 12/10/2023 12

DIFC – The leading Financial Centre and Fintech Hub in Middle East, Africa, South Asia (MEASA)

DIFC fosters ecosystem growth through Leap

Leap by DIFC

Accelerate your business in a safer, easier, faster, and cost-effective way

with Leap, the digital platform accelerating growth of the DIFC ecosystem

• Community: Discover and connect with potential customers, partners,

and professionals in the DIFC community, to exchange knowledge, find
mentors, and business opportunities.
• Marketplace: Amplify your presence, showcase your products, access a
wide variety of technical and professional services, and instantly avail Some of our perks providers:

over $1 million worth of perks to accelerate your growth.

• Talent Network: Source from a pool of over 50,000+ qualified local and
international candidates, to drive your expansion plans.
• Capital (coming soon): Stay tuned for this exciting addition to our
platform, where we continue our mission to drive value to our
community.

Ready to elevate your business? Click here or scan the

QR Code
Confidential date: 12/10/2023 13
DIFC – The leading Financial Centre and Fintech Hub in Middle East, Africa, South Asia (MEASA)

DIFC is home to some of the largest global and regional FinTech & Innovation

Confidential date: 03/01/2024 14

DIFC – The leading Financial Centre and Fintech Hub in Middle East, Africa, South Asia (MEASA)

DIFC is home to a dynamic and active innovation ecosystem

Dubai FinTech Summit: 2 day summit to deep-dive into AI Festival : 1-day event focusing on exploring AI, IOT Innovation month: 25 days of events with 200+ speakers
the latest challenges and technology trends in the and robotics and the AI use-cases across sectors, also to discuss ideas, explore new technologies and learn
MENA financial sector (5K participants) including workshops showcasing the impact of AI the latest industry trends

DIFC Talent Week: Series of events, in collaboration with Blockchain Week: 4 days of roundtables, fireside chats Other ongoing events: Example include Innovation
educational institutes, corporates and government to and workshops to explore the impact of Blockchain Talks, hosting experts and speakers (e.g. Business
support and enable young talent technologies including cryto, digital assets and more Brunch, Collaboration Day etc.)

Confidential date: 03/01/2024 15

September 2023

You can also reach us on

For further information, T: +971 4 362 2245
please visit difc.ae or E: Salmaan.Jaffery@difc.ae
scan the QR code Yahia.mageed@difc.ae
DIFC – The leading Financial Centre and Fintech Hub in Middle East, Africa, South Asia (MEASA)

Dubai is the top regional hub for innovation and venture investment
VC funding as a % GDP at par with global leaders Top 10 Tech ScaleUp Cities in MENA
(By # of ScaleUps in 2022)
Total 2021 VC Funding, %GDP1
Capital Raised (US$ million) # of ScaleUps
Total VC Funding, $Bn GDP, $ Tn

Dubai 1.0% 11,664 Dubai 306

1.0 0.1

1,598 Cairo 135

Israel 2.7% 10.7 0.4

3,420 Riyadh 93
US 1.5% 311.0 21.0

904 Abu Dhabi 28

UK 1.1% 29.0 2.8

260 Amman 28
China 0.6% 90.1 14.7
147 Kuwait 25
UAE 0.3% 1.2 0.4
257 Beirut 22
MENA 0.1% 2.6 3.0
60 Jeddah 16
Ø 1.0%
Source: Magnitt MENA Q1 2022 Venture Investment Report, CBInsights Venture Report 2021, World Bank, IMF 2021; Magnitt 1 GDP data Confidential date: 03/01/2024 17
from 2020 for completeness and comparison across geographies; Dubai Chamber, Dubai Venture Capital Ecosystem Report