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Dubai ranked world’s 7th most influential financial hub
Global Financial Centres Index ranked the emirate among the top 15 cities across all evaluated sectors such as banking, finance, investment management, and insurance
- PUBLISHED: Thu 26 Mar 2026, 2:14 PM
Dubai has recorded its highest-ever ranking in the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI), climbing to seventh place globally and becoming one of the world’s most influential financial hubs.
It is the highest ranking achieved by a financial centre in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA). Dubai also remains the only centre from the region to feature in the top 20.
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The ranking positions Dubai alongside leading global financial hubs, including London, New York City, and Singapore, as the only financial centre from the region in this group. Dubai also retained its classification as one of ten cities globally considered leaders in the industry and ranked as the number one financial centre expected to become more significant.
Produced by the leading think tank Z/Yen Group in London, the index benchmarks financial centre competitiveness, assessing 137 financial centres using 135 instrumental factors and insights gathered from more than 34,000 assessments completed by financial services professionals worldwide.
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 the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), said the emirate continues to build one of the most competitive and future-ready financial hubs in the world.
“Dubai’s rise to seventh place in the Global Financial Centres Index reflects the strength of our economic vision and the confidence the international financial community places in our ecosystem. Through the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, we are accelerating our efforts to position Dubai among the world’s top four global financial centres by 2033,” he said.
In top 15 across all sectors
In recent years, DIFC has experienced record-breaking growth, attracting leading financial institutions, global investors, and innovative technology companies to Dubai. It now hosts over 9,000 active companies, including some of the world’s largest banks, asset managers, hedge funds, insurers, and professional services firms, with a workforce exceeding 50,000.
For the first time, industry respondents ranked Dubai in the top 15 across all evaluated sectors, making it the only city from the region to feature in this prestigious group. Banking ranked 14th, while finance, investment management, and insurance were all placed in the top 10. FinTech, Government & Regulatory, Professional Services, and Trading advanced into the top five. Dubai is also recognised as the region’s only financial centre to rank among the top ten cities globally for competitiveness in Business Environment, Financial Sector Development, Human Capital, and Infrastructure.
“We continue to strengthen Dubai’s position as the region’s leading global financial hub, attracting top-tier financial institutions, innovators, and talent,” said Essa Kazim, Governor of Dubai International Financial Centre.
Arif Amiri, CEO of the Dubai International Financial Centre Authority, added: “Our strategy focuses on fostering innovation, attracting leading global financial institutions, and creating an environment where businesses can grow and thrive. As we continue to expand our platforms – whether in FinTech, capital markets, wealth management, or insurance – DIFC will play a leading role in advancing Dubai’s ambition to become one of the world’s top four financial centres.”
