DIFC hedge fund registrations top 100

The number of hedge funds registered at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has doubled in less than two years and now crossed the 100 mark.

There are now 102 hedge fund management companies, compared to 50 at the start of 2024. The majority of the funds — 81 — manage more than $1 billion in assets, the DIFC said in a statement.

The latest arrivals include BlueCrest Capital, Nine Masts Capital, North Rock Capital, Pearl Diver Capital, Select Equity Group, Silver Point Capital and Welwing Capital Group. They join global names including BlackRock,Brevan Howard, Dymon Asia, Exodus Point, Qube Research and Technologies and Verition.

The wealth and asset management sector in DIFC continues to expand rapidly, with more than 470 companies. 

The DIFC said that it has the Middle East’s highest concentration of private wealth, including more than 1,250 family-related business entities.  

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In October, the centre said it had surpassed 8,000 active companies, employing around 48,000 professionals.

Established in 2004, DIFC is home to 289 licensed banks and capital markets companies. They manage nearly $240 billion in banking assets, up from $80 billion a decade ago.