Dubai’s ambition to become a world-leading center for private capital took a decisive step forward on Monday, as Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and the International Private Equity Market (IPEM) unveiled the outcomes of the first-ever IPEM Future Preview, a closed-door convening of some of the world’s most influential private capital investors.

Hosted for the first time in the region at DIFC, the invitation-only event brought together senior leaders from sovereign wealth funds, global investment firms, and leading venture and growth platforms. Their shared focus: how long-term capital can drive the next era of innovation, resilience, and economic transformation.

The message was clear. Dubai—and DIFC in particular—is fast becoming the region’s preferred destination for private markets, as global investors seek access to new liquidity pools, scalable opportunities, and a stable, pro-growth financial ecosystem.

Designed as a high-energy, workshop-driven forum, the day-long agenda emphasized collaboration among decision-makers. Participants broadly agreed that the Gulf has entered a new phase as a private capital hub, underpinned by strong macroeconomic fundamentals, regulatory clarity, and a business-friendly environment that encourages global capital deployment at scale.

Investors are increasingly expanding both their portfolios and on-the-ground operations in regional financial centers like DIFC, with growing confidence in the institutional ecosystem. That confidence is translating into new bets across sectors such as artificial intelligence, data infrastructure, and climate innovation—areas seen as offering long-duration growth and strategic value.

“The IPEM Future Preview demonstrated the confidence global investors place in DIFC as a platform for long-term capital,” said Arif Amiri, CEO of DIFC Authority. “Bringing influential leaders together in Dubai reinforces our position at the center of a rapidly transforming private markets landscape.”

A central theme emerging from the discussions was “Transformative Capital”—a concept reflecting how private markets are recalibrating after recent global volatility. Rather than chasing short-term returns, investors are increasingly prioritizing investments that combine financial performance with long-term, systemic impact, particularly in emerging and frontier technologies.

This shift mirrors evolving priorities among Gulf sovereign wealth funds and institutional investors, who are directing capital toward sectors with structural growth potential. The findings also align with insights from DIFC’s Future of Finance series, which positions Dubai as a jurisdiction where long-term capital and high-growth opportunity reinforce one another.

Insights from the Preview will now feed directly into the agenda for IPEM Future Dubai 2026, scheduled for May 13–14 during Dubai Future Finance Week. Designed as a strategy-setting platform for globally selected executives, the event aims to further consolidate Dubai’s position as one of the most influential centers for private capital—shaping the next decade of economic and technological transformation from the heart of the MEASA region.