The Banking Executive Magazine - May 2026 Issue

DIFC DIFC REPORTS STRONG CLIENT GROWTH IN Q1 2026 Dubai International Financial Cen- tre (DIFC), the leading global finan- cial centre in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, today announced strong momentum during the first three months of 2026, attracting new global, re- gional and local clients. 775 new companies established their regional presence in DIFC dur- ing the first three months of 2026, reflecting the Centre’s prominence for finance, business, and innova- tion. This represents a 62% increase on the same period in 2025, when 478 companies set up in the Centre. Performance was particularly strong in March when compared to the prior year, with 258 companies es- tablishing in March 2026, up from 162 in March 2025, reflecting 59% year-on-year growth. The continued influx of firms reflects the BANKING EXECUTIVE 26 ISSUE 209 MAY 2026