• Oakhill , which manages assets worth US$108 billion, along with AIP   Varenne 's acquisition brings the number of asset managers at the center to over 100, joining an elite group of global companies such as BlackRock and Millennium that have chosen the Dubai International Financial Centre as their headquarters .
• The number of hedge fund managers has doubled since the beginning of 2024, including 81 funds in the "billion-dollar club " category.

Dubai - United Arab Emirates:   The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading global financial center in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region, announced a significant milestone with the number of registered hedge funds reaching 100, confirming its position as a rising global force in this vital sector and reinforcing its progress to become one of the top five hedge fund centers worldwide.

The center has witnessed remarkable growth in the number of registered hedge funds, with the number more than doubling from 50 funds at the beginning of 2024, including 81 funds from the “billion-dollar club ” that manage portfolios exceeding one billion dollars in value . Recently added to the list are Baron Capital Management , BlueCrest Capital , Naya Capital Management , Nine Masts Capital, North Rock Capital , Pearl Diver Capital , Select Equity Group , Strategic Investment Group , Silver Point Capital , Squarepoint Capital , and Welwing Capital Group . They join a list of existing clients that includes Balyasny , BlackRock , Blue Owl , Brevan Howard , Dymon Asia , Exodus Point , Hudson Bay , Millennium , Qube Research and Technologies (QRT ), and Verition .

Companies continue to join the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) at a record pace, driven by its numerous competitive advantages. These include enabling fund managers to access financial markets in Asia, Europe, and America, benefiting from a broad pool of specialized talent in the region, and attracting investments from high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and sovereign wealth funds . The DIFC also boasts one of the most advanced and integrated banking and advisory ecosystems in the region, providing hedge funds operating within it with an ideal environment for growth and excellence.

His Excellency Arif Amiri, CEO of the Dubai International Financial Centre Authority , said: “The Dubai International Financial Centre’s leadership in the hedge fund sector is evident in the completeness and maturity of its operational ecosystem and the growing trust it enjoys both locally and globally. Our client-centric approach, coupled with our strategic partnerships across various sectors, contributes to the development of innovative solutions that support continued growth. The size and depth of the alternative investment community in the Centre further enhances our position as a leading financial destination in the region and elevates our ability to operate across all business sectors, supporting our clients’ efforts to influence the global financial landscape from Dubai.”

The DIFC Hedge Fund Hub is a pioneering project recently launched in the sector. As a unique co-working space dedicated to the asset management industry, it empowers managers to establish their businesses more quickly, operate with greater cost efficiency, and scale at an accelerated pace to support their growth and enhance their presence . The Hub is home to a select group of leading global firms, as well as mid-cap and emerging companies. It also enables more than 85% of hedge fund managers operating within the DIFC to offer a comprehensive suite of services, including financial advisory, deal structuring, private equity raising, and sovereign wealth management, all directly from the Hub.

The latest report from the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) on the future of alternative investments reveals growing momentum in this sector. It confirms that technological innovation, supportive regulatory reforms, and an expanding investor base are key drivers accelerating capital flows into alternative investments, which have become an essential component of diversified investment portfolios. The report specifically highlights the increasing interest of high-net-worth individuals and family offices in these investments, with their allocations to them more than doubling since 2008 to reach approximately 15%.

The wealth and asset management sector in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) continues its exceptional growth, currently hosting over 470 specialized firms. This integrated ecosystem provides a unique platform for asset managers to access one of the largest and most concentrated pools of private wealth in the Middle East, comprising over 1,250 family-owned entities operating within the Centre itself. The UAE’s prominent position as a leading global destination for attracting wealth further fuels this growth, with Henley & Partners forecasting that approximately 9,800 millionaires will relocate to the country by the end of 2025. This underscores the sector’s development and reflects the increasing confidence in the business and investment environment in Dubai and the UAE as a whole.

About Dubai International Financial Centre

The Dubai International Financial Centre is one of the world’s leading financial centers and the premier financial hub in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region, which comprises 77 countries with a population of approximately 3.8 billion people and an estimated GDP of $11.2 trillion.

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has a proven track record of 20 years in promoting trade and investment flows across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, and serves as a bridge connecting the region’s rapidly growing markets with the economies of Asia, Europe and the Americas via Dubai.

The center provides an ideal and integrated working environment that combines a global and independent regulatory body and an effective judicial system based on the principles of English common law, in addition to a vibrant business community with a workforce of over 48,800 professionals in more than 8,000 active and registered companies, making it the largest and most diverse community of outstanding human talent in the region.

The center’s vision is to lead the future of the financial sector through advanced technologies, promote innovation, and build partnerships. Today, it is a leading global future center for the financial sector and innovation, providing the most comprehensive environment for the artificial intelligence, financial technology, and venture capital sectors in the region. This includes providing effective licensing solutions, a targeted legislative system, innovation accelerator programs, and financing services for growth-stage startups.

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) offers a diverse range of retail and international dining options, as well as art galleries, residential apartments, luxury hotels, and public spaces. The DIFC continues to solidify its position as one of Dubai's premier business and lifestyle destinations.

For more information, please visit the website Visit difc.com , or follow us on X and LinkedIn @DIFC .

For media inquiries, please contact us :

Nevin William

Pearson | bursonglobal.com

nivine.william@bursonglobal.com

Rasha Mazhar

Dubai International Financial Centre Authority

Public Relations Manager – Marketing and Corporate Communications

3622451 4 971

rasha.mezher@difc.ae

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