DIFC Dubai International Financial Centre - Companies, The Gate, Location Map

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.

The DIFC is dominated by the The Gate, a 15-storey building designed by US architects Gensler situated at the northern end of the development. Marble Walk located beneath The Gate offers numerous retail outlets and cafes while the surrounding terrace, The Balcony, houses mainly cafes and delis. The Gate Village, just east of The Gate, is home to restaurants and upmarket art galleries.

Hotels

The Ritz-Carlton Dubai International Financial Centre opened at the beginning of 2011.

Dubai’s first Rosewood Hotel is scheduled to open here in 2013.

There are also plenty of hotels in the surrounding Trade Centre/Sheikh Zayed Road area.

Shopping and Art Galleries

High end art galleries such as Art Space, Art Sawa, Ayyam Gallery, and the Cuadro Fine Art Gallery can be found at The Gate Village.

Emirates Towers Boulevard is just north of DIFC and offers further retail and dining options.

Restaurants

There are numerous restaurants and cafes in DIFC. Choices include:

Gate Village – Zuma (Japanese), La Petite Maison (French), Gaucho (Argentinian steakhouse), Roberto’s (Italian)
The Balcony – 1762 (gourmet deli), Yo! Sushi (Japanese),
Marble Walk – Gourmet Burger Kitchen (American)
Ritz-Carlton DIFC – Blue Rain (Thai), Can Can (French), Centre Cut (steakhouse)

Transport

The area is served by two Metro stations; Emirates Towers and Financial Centre. Both are on the Red Line. Visitors with business at The Gate should alight at Emirates Towers.