Dubai will invest 22,760 million euros to expand its financial district until 2040

Dubai reinforces its position as one of the main global financial centers with an ambitious plan to expand its international financial district. The Emirati city will allocate more than 100 billion dirhams (22,760 million euros) Until the year 2040 to expand the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), in response to the strong increase in demand from foreign companies.

The initiative seeks to alleviate pressure on current infrastructures, which have reached their maximum capacity due to the sustained growth in the number of companies operating in the emirate.

A New Financial District: Zabeel

According to information provided by Bloomberg, the plan envisages the creation of a new district called Zabeel, which will significantly expand the area of the financial center. This new development will add 17.7 million square meters At 11.8 million already existing, making up one of the largest financial complexes in the world.

The project will be executed in six phases, allowing for progressive expansion aligned with Dubai's economic growth and the continuous arrival of new international companies.

Business growth and employment generation

Currently, the DIFC houses more than 7,700 companies, which employ about 48,000 people, according to data for the first half of 2025. The district has established itself as a key hub for the global financial sector, with the presence of more than 100 hedge funds and around 500 wealth and asset managers.

Once the development of Zabeel is completed, the total capacity of the financial district will rise to 42,000 companies and 125,000 workers, which will represent a quantitative and qualitative leap in the emirate's international projection.

Innovation, Artificial Intelligence and Financial Education

Beyond its financial focus, the new district will incorporate a comprehensive vision of urban and economic development. Zabeel will have residential buildings, a Innovation Center for Startups, a Campus specialized in artificial intelligence, a financial education academy And a Museum, reinforcing the area's attractiveness as a business and talent ecosystem.

This commitment to innovation and training responds to Dubai's strategy to diversify its economy and position itself as a global leader in finance, technology and the knowledge economy.

Dubai consolidates its global financial leadership

With this historic investment, Dubai reaffirms its long-term commitment to economic growth, attracting international capital and developing world-class infrastructure. The expansion of the DIFC will not only meet current demand, but will lay the groundwork for the emirate to continue to be one of the The world's leading financial hubs in the coming decades.

The Zabeel project is thus emerging as a key part of the Dubai 2040 vision, combining finance, innovation and urban quality in the same space.

‍