Dubai International Financial Centre

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is a federal financial free zone situated in the Emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The DIFC was established pursuant to UAE Federal Decree No. 35 of 2004, UAE Federal Law No. 8 of 2004 and Dubai Law No. 12 of 2004. The DIFC occupies a physical territory of approximately 110 acres. It has its own legal system and courts distinct from those of the wider UAE, with jurisdiction over corporate, commercial, civil, employment, trusts and securities law matters.

Quick facts: Industry, Founded, ...
The DIFC aims to provide a platform for business and financial institutions to reach into and out of the emerging markets of the region. It was established to create an environment for growth, progress and economic development in the UAE and the wider region by providing the needed legal and business as well as physical infrastructure benchmarked against international standards.

Independent jurisdiction
The DIFC is an independent jurisdiction under the UAE Constitution, with its own civil and commercial laws distinct from those of the wider UAE. DIFC laws and regulations are written in English and default to English law in the event of an ambiguity. The DIFC also has its own courts, with judges taken from leading common law jurisdictions including England, Singapore and Hong Kong. The DIFC’s independent jurisdiction extends to a range of areas including corporate, commercial, civil, employment, trusts, and securities law matters. Other laws of the UAE or the Emirate of Dubai, such as criminal law and immigration regulations, continue to apply within the DIFC.

The DIFC-LCIA Arbitration Centre is an independent centre of international arbitration that uses rules modelled on the London Court of International Arbitration.

The principal governing body of the DIFC is the DIFC Authority. The financial services regulator is the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), which regulates the conduct of financial services in and from the DIFC. The DFSA is distinct from the UAE’s federal Securities and Commodities Authority, whose jurisdiction covers the wider UAE outside the boundaries of the DIFC.

Role as an international financial centre
Licence applications are considered from financial institutions in the sectors. Each of these units offer benefits such as zero tax rate on income and profits, 100 per cent foreign ownership, no restrictions on foreign exchange or capital/profit repatriation, operational support and business continuity facilities.

One of the key elements of the centre is a privately held financial exchange that opened in September 2005 as Dubai International Financial Exchange (DIFX) but was rebranded to NASDAQ Dubai in the year 2008.

The trading hours of NASDAQ Dubai are from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm (06:00 am to 10:00 am GMT) from Sunday to Thursday.[3]

Companies listed on NASDAQ Dubai include ordinary shares listed by DP World along with DEPA. DP World's initial public offering was the largest ever in the Middle East and raised $4.96 billion;[4] it was 15 times oversubscribed, and is one of the most valued companies in the Middle East Region.[5]

NASDAQ Dubai is regulated by Dubai Financial Services Authority.[6]

Hotels
The Dubai International Financial Centre complex has one hotel, the Ritz Carlton DIFC.[7] The hotel was announced and construction was started in 2006.[8][9] Paris-based construction firm Bouygues[8] built the hotel for developers Union Properties.[8] The hotel was scheduled to open 2008,[10] but began operations in January 2011.[11]

The 5 star[12] property is located adjacent to the Gate Precinct within the Gate Boulevard district near the Gate Building. It is 14 stories tall and consists of 341 rooms plus 124 serviced apartments, 3 restaurants 2 lounges and a 1400 square meter ballroom.[13] The hotel covers an area of 2000 square meters.[9]

The developers of the hotel, Union Properties, sold it in November 2010 for AED 1.1 Billion in order to reduce debt.[9]

The hotel has a 4.5/5 rating on TripAdvisor.[12]

Art galleries
Dubai International Financial Centre is also home to art galleries which showcase both local and international art:[14][15]

The galleries showcase works by Middle Eastern and international artists, and frequently host events to present new works from different artists. Some of the above galleries also act as auction houses.

Restaurants and cafés
There is a variety of 42 cafes and restaurants located in this area featuring local and international chains; the selection of eateries includes everything from fast food outlets to dining options. A wide variety of cuisines can be found here:[16][17]

Shopping
Within the DIFC complex are located a variety of retail shops and convenience stores along with business services outlets:[18]