Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)
The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) opened in 2004 and is a 110 acre onshore financial centre aiming to compete with the likes of New York and London. It is one of Dubai’s major free zones.
Companies based at DIFC provide financial services in the following sectors; banks and banking services, capital markets, asset management and fund registration, insurance and reinsurance, and Islamic finance.
They are regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority and include Julius Baer (Middle East), Credit Suisse, Standard Chartered, Babcock and Brown (DIFC), Renaissance Capital, Merrill Lynch, GCC Energy Fund Managers, Alliance Re, Goldman Sachs, and Praesidium.
The Dubai International Financial Exchange (DIFX) is also based here.
Hotels
The Ritz-Carlton Dubai International Financial Centre is expected to open towards the end of 2008.
Dubai’s first Rosewood Hotel is also here and is scheduled to open in 2009.
There are also plenty of hotels in the surrounding Trade Centre/Sheikh Zayed Road area.
Real Estate - Apartments
Some of the towers currently under construction at the DIFC are residential.
- Park Towers – 2 egg-shaped 30-storey towers, each with 1-3 bedroom apartments
- The Buildings – Includes 65 residential floors with 1-3 bedroom apartments (tower also includes the Rosewood Hotel)
Shopping
The Gate District is home to a number of shops such as the De Beers diamond boutique, Borders bookshop, Porsche Design and Bin Hindi Jewellery.
Restaurants
Restaurants and cafes such as Noodle House, Gourmet Burger, Yo Sushi, Haagen Dazs, and Subway are found in the Gate District.
Map
Map showing the location of DIFC.
Image Gallery
Pictures of the DIFC. Mouseover to change main photograph and for more information.
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