Dubai, UAE – 26 March 2026
Dubai has reached its highest ever position in the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI), rising to seventh place worldwide and reinforcing its growing influence as a leading international financial hub.
The latest rankings place Dubai among an elite group of global cities shaping the future of finance, alongside established centres such as London, New York City and Singapore. It also remains the only financial centre from the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region to feature in the top tier globally.
The index, compiled by London based think tank Z/Yen Group, is widely regarded as one of the most authoritative benchmarks of financial competitiveness. It evaluates 137 financial centres using over 130 factors, drawing on tens of thousands of assessments from industry professionals worldwide.
Dubai’s performance reflects strong progress across multiple sectors. The emirate ranked within the top 15 in all evaluated areas, with finance, investment management and insurance placing in the global top 10. Meanwhile, fintech, professional services, trading, and regulatory strength all advanced into the top five. The banking sector also showed solid performance, ranking 14th globally.
Notably, Dubai is one of only ten cities classified as a global leader in financial services and is considered the top centre most likely to grow in significance in the years ahead. It is also the only regional hub to rank in the top 10 for key competitiveness indicators, including business environment, financial sector development, human capital and infrastructure.
The emirate’s rise has been driven in large part by the continued expansion of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), which has emerged as the region’s most comprehensive financial district. The centre now hosts more than 9,000 companies and a workforce exceeding 50,000, attracting global banks, asset managers, insurers and technology firms.
Officials say the milestone aligns with Dubai’s broader ambitions under its economic agenda to rank among the world’s top four financial centres by 2033.
Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said the achievement reflects both the strength of Dubai’s economic strategy and the confidence of the international financial community. Under the leadership of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, he noted, the emirate continues to build a future-ready financial ecosystem capable of shaping global finance.
Dubai’s growing role as a bridge between East and West has also been a key factor in its rise, enabling the seamless flow of capital, talent and innovation across markets in Asia, Europe and the Americas.
With continued investment in innovation, regulation and infrastructure, the latest ranking underscores Dubai’s accelerating momentum and signals its intent to play an even larger role on the global financial stage in the years ahead.
