Press Release

DIFC Records Over 16% Employment Growth in 2012

Dubai – 21 January 2013: Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the financial and business hub connecting the Middle East, Africa and South Asia’s markets with the developed markets of Europe, Asia and the Americas, provides the market with an update on its solid performance during 2012.

Highlights

  • The number of active registered companies operating within DIFC rose during the year to reach 912 companies at the end of December 2012, a 7% year-on-yearincrease
  • Notable growth in active regulated and non-regulated companies registered with DIFC, standing at 345 and 450 respectively at the end of 2012
  • Greater diversification of retail portfolio within DIFC, with 22 new outlets offering a range of services registered within the last year, taking the total to 117
  • Dubai ranked as the top financial centre in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region, and is placed among the top five global players, alongside Singapore, Hong Kong, London and Shanghai, where international firms want to open their offices
  • Combined workforce of DIFC-registered companies currently over 14,000, a 16% growth rate in comparison to the previous year

Jeffrey Singer, CEO of DIFC Authority remarked:

“Dubai’s unique proposition and geographical positioning provide unrivalled opportunities in terms of connectivity and accessibility to the thriving Middle East, Asian and African markets. The growth we have witnessed within DIFC reflects the ongoing demand among international businesses for a presence in the region.

In spite ofglobal economic challenges,DIFC has delivered a robust performance across all areas of the business. Our strategy remains the same and bycapitalising on our world-class infrastructure and internationally recognised legislative and regulatory framework, we are creating a platform for global and regional companies to build fruitful and sustainable business relationships within a comprehensive financial environment.”

Operating Review

Despite the economic uncertainty resulting from the ongoing crisis in the Eurozone and political volatility around the Middle East in 2012, Dubai has continued to build its reputation asan international financial hub for the region.

The number of active registered companies within DIFC increased to 912 during the last year, with the addition of 38 regulated firms, including Bank of China Middle East (Dubai) Limited, Guy Carpenter (Middle East) Limited, Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance PLC, Abu Dhabi Capital Management Limited,Neuberger Berman Europe Limited, Standard Life International Limited and Dechert LLP; 111 non-regulated firms and 22 retail outletsto the Centre’s client portfolio. The combined workforce of companies registered with DIFC currently stands atapproximately 14,000, a 16% growth rate in comparison to the previous year, representing over 120 nationalities.

DIFC’s increasingly diverse geographical mix of clients is reinforcingits growing reputation as the gateway between East and West, with the Centre currently facilitating regulated firms from across the globe, including 37% from Europe, 26% from the Middle East, 18% from North America, 11% from Asia, and 8% from the rest of the world.

There was a marked rise in the number of authorised firms within various license categories,in addition to a number of existing DIFC clients, such as Bank Sarasin-Alpen (Middle East) Limited, UBS AG and VTB Capital PLC, who have chosen to upgrade their licenses to a higher category in 2012. These numbers have indicated a significant increase in business activity and transactions from within the Centre.

Furthermore,many of DIFC’s current clients opted to grow their physical presence within the Centre by expanding their currentoffice space by up to 10,000 square feet, a trend that was most apparent during the second half of the year.

DIFC has also progressed in its strategy to create an environment that supportsbusiness growth, and is now the location of choice for 19 of the world’s top 25 banks, 11 of the world’s top 20 money managers, 8 of the top 10 insurance companies, and 6 of the top 10 legal firms, solidifying its reputation as a prestigious and highly sought after business community.

Reinforcing the Centre’s reputation as an international financial hub for the region, Dubai is now ranked as the top financial centre in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, and is placed as one of the top five global centres where international firms want to open offices, alongside Singapore, Hong Kong, London and Shanghai, as reported in the 12th edition of the Global Financial Centres Index in September 2012.

Soft Infrastructure Development

Companies based inDIFC continue to benefit from the Centre’s internationally recognised regulatory and legal framework, which effectively facilitates the growth of financial services and commercial activities.

In 2012, 4DIFC laws were enacted by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Ruler of Dubai. These included the Employment Law Amendment Law (DIFC Law No. 3 of 2012), Real Property Law Amendment Law(DIFC Law No. 4 of 2012), Data Protection Law Amendment Law (DIFC Law No. 5 of 2012), and Non-Profit Incorporated Organisation Law (DIFC Law No. 6 of 2012).

DIFC continued to form long-lasting and mutually beneficial partnerships with its clients by signing three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with TheCityUK, the Australia Gulf Council and New South Wales Trade & Investment, bringing the total number of MoUs signed to 18.

Physical Infrastructure Development

The increasing number of clients, in addition to the internal expansion of companies already existing within DIFC, has contributed to significantly high occupancy rates within the Centre. As of 31 December 2012, occupancy of DIFC-owned commercial offices in the Gate District (Gate Building, Gate Precinct and Gate Village) remained high at 94% of leasable space (total commercial office space:1,370,000 square feet), and 98% occupancy rates of DIFC-owned retail space (total retail space: 229,000 square feet).

The occupancy within third party owned office space managed by DIFC under the Property Lease Management Agreement (PLMA)stands at 90% (total PLMA area:535,000 square feet). This space includes Currency House, Currency Tower and part of Liberty House.

New companies registered with DIFC in 2012 accounted for the leasing of approximately 260,000 square feet of space, in addition to the physical growth of existing companies resulting in the lease of almost 35,000 additional square feet.

To meet the growing demand in DIFC, around 877,553 square feet of GFA (Gross Floor Area) of space has been made available in the Centre during the second half of 2012, in the form of the recently opened Daman offices. Office space is also available in other third party owned and managed properties including the Index Tower, Park Towers and Emirates Financial Towers.

- Ends -

For further inquiries on DIFC, please contact:

Dubai International Financial Centre

Shaima Al Zarouni

PR Manager

Email:

Tel: +971 4 362 2432

Capital MSL (Dubai)

Manal Shaikh

Senior Consultant

Email:

Tel: +971 55 109 2542

About DIFC

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is the financial and business hub connecting the region’s emerging markets with the developed markets of Europe, Asia and the Americas.

Since its launch in 2004, DIFC, a purposely built financial free zone, has been committed to encouraging economic growth and development in the region through its strong financial and business infrastructure. Currently, DIFC's client base comprises almost 900 active registered firms, including 17 of the world’s top 25 banks, eight of the world’s ten largest insurers, eight out of 15 top law firms, ten of the top 20 money managers and seven of the top ten consultant companies in the world. Around 13 thousand employees operate in an open environment complemented by international legal and regulatory standards. DIFC offers its member companies benefits such as 100 per cent foreign ownership, zero per cent tax rate, with no restriction on capital convertibility or profit repatriation. DIFC has its own independent financial and ancillary services regulatory body, the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). It also has the DIFC Courts, which is an independent common law judiciary based in DIFC with jurisdiction over civil and commercial disputes in or relating to the Centre.

DIFC is built upon a modern legal, regulatory and physical infrastructure, which makes it the destination of choice for Financial Services firms establishing a presence in the region.

For further information, please visit our website: , or follow us on Twitter @DIFC.

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