Dubai: H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, visited Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) to review its strategic priorities and innovation ambitions.
According to Emirates News Agency, Sheikh Hamdan was welcomed by Essa Kazim, Governor of DIFC, and other senior officials. During the visit, he was briefed on DIFC's client-centric strategy and its ambition to become the world's first fully AI-native financial centre. The briefing also covered the ongoing growth of the DIFC Innovation Hub, including the Dubai AI Campus, which was inaugurated by Sheikh Hamdan two years ago.
Sheikh Hamdan emphasized the role of DIFC as a global model for economic and financial ecosystems driven by innovation and connectivity. He stated that DIFC's growth reflects international confidence in Dubai's economy, supporting its ambition to rank among the world's top three cities for business and investment. The visit highlighted DIFC's contribution to Dubai's economic diversification and its role in reinforcing the emirate's global competitiveness.
Essa Kazim noted that DIFC is pivotal in enabling sustainable growth across financial services and technology sectors, reinforcing Dubai as a global business destination. He remarked on Dubai's recent rise in the Global Financial Centres Index to seventh place, signifying the strength of its financial ecosystem anchored by DIFC.
Arif Amiri, CEO of DIFC Authority, added that the Centre plays a central role in advancing Dubai's global competitiveness. With a large ecosystem of regulated financial firms and innovation businesses, DIFC reflects the emirate's ambition and international appeal. By advancing initiatives that shape the future of finance, including its AI-native ambition, DIFC fosters an environment for global institutions and emerging enterprises to thrive in Dubai.
DIFC stands as a key player in the global financial landscape, enhancing Dubai's status as a leading destination for finance and business across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region.