UAE - Mubasher: Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has recorded a 59% year-on-year (YoY) rise in the number of new registered companies to 492 during the first half (H1) of 2021, the Dubai media office reported.

With this performance, the international financial hub has achieved its '2024 Strategy' growth targets three years ahead of schedule.

This record has raised the total number of registered companies at DIFC to 3,292 in H1-21, up 27% from 2,584 in the year-ago period, tripling in size since 2014 when the '2024 Strategy' was launched.

The number of financial and innovation-related companies rose by 25% YoY to 1,025 in the first six months of 2020.

The Deputy Ruler of Dubai and President of the DIFC, Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, said: "The announcement of the H1 2021 results coincides with the launch of 50 new initiatives and projects in the UAE on Sunday based on the ‘Principles of the 50’ document, which is set to serve as a strategic roadmap for the country's new era of political, economic and social development."

Meanwhile, the Governor of DIFC, Essa Kazim, commented: "Our continued growth also reflects the success of our forward-thinking approach to focus on driving both the future of finance and technology and innovation more broadly, enabling DIFC to attract pioneering start-ups and best-in-class global institutions alike."