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Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has joined forces with the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA), which makes it the first financial center in the MENA region to do so. AIMA represents over 2,100 corporate members with over $2.5 trillion in hedge fund and private credit assets.

“Innovation and cross-border collaboration attract capital flows and opportunities in growth markets for high-performing hedge funds with a range of investment strategies,” said Arif Amiri, CEO of DIFC Authority. He added that the agreement marks another pivotal moment for Dubai and DIFC as they look to drive the future of finance and be further equipped with a hyper-connected ecosystem incorporating global portfolios. 

As the country becomes a global financial hub for alternative investments and asset management, Jack Inglis, CEO of AIMA, said, “The past year has seen many reports of alternative investment managers, including some of the industry’s largest names, opening offices in the UAE,” he added.

In Q2 of this year, Dubai has seen a rising influx of alternative investment firms and hedge funds. The firms plan to relocate their senior management to DIFC to conduct portfolio management and investor relations projects. New private equity firms are also establishing offices in DIFC, while the center is also in talks with global hedge funds looking to set up camp for their offices.