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Dubai has announced a bold Financial Sector Strategy that will see its city ranked among the top three financial hubs globally. Led by Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, the plan aims to enhance the financial ecosystem of the emirate, with a strong emphasis on virtual assets. It also aims at enhancing the contribution of the sector to the GDP by 0.5 to 3. The project is a landmark in economic change in Dubai, as it incorporates innovation, regulation, and market growth.
According to Sheikh Maktoum, the strategy is in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33. The purpose of this is to ensure that the emirate is the most preferred financial services destination across the globe. His directive is based on the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to improve economic diversification and long-term development.
The Financial Sector Strategy presents 15 radical programs in the next three years. Both are supposed to digitalize international finance by being innovative and inclusive. Its areas of interest are capital markets, asset management, SME financing, FinTech, and virtual assets.
A core element of the strategy is the expansion of Dubai’s virtual asset sector. The goal is to elevate its GDP share to 3%, making it a key economic pillar. This move signals a major evolution in Dubai’s approach to finance, supporting its broader ambition of economic integration with global markets.
VARA, the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, has already played a central role in achieving this progress. It continues to strengthen Dubai’s position as a global hub for virtual assets and related services. Sheikh Maktoum received updates showing VARA’s strong performance this year, with transaction volumes reaching nearly AED 2.5 trillion across regulated entities.
Assets under management also grew to AED 9.6 billion in 2025, fueled by institutional interest. VARA’s framework has created a secure and innovative environment that attracts both established and emerging market participants.
Could this strategic move make Dubai the model for future financial hubs worldwide?
The Financial Sector Strategy is also concerned with the expansion of market activity, which is promoted by the listing of family businesses and startups. It aims to increase the number of investors by implementing better policies that attract asset managers and entrepreneurs.
The plan also supports the sustainable development of the SME sector. It provides innovative funding structures to expand access to funds and keep businesses going. This expansion in financial inclusion will help Dubai to make SMEs a more significant part of the national GDP.
Dubai is now ranked 11th in the world, compared to 12th this year and 16th last year, according to the Global Financial Centers Index. It is the leader in the potential of future development throughout the world, and it is expected to increase over the next few years.
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Dubai’s new Financial Sector Strategy marks a pivotal step toward strengthening its position as a top global financial hub. Led by Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, the plan expands the role of virtual assets, aiming to raise their GDP share from 0.5% to 3%.
