Dubai has launched a transformative expansion of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), unveiling the DIFC Zabeel District as part of a Dh100 billion master development that will reshape and significantly expand the emirate’s leading financial hub. The project is positioned as a major step in enhancing Dubai’s global competitiveness across finance, innovation, and advanced industries.
Announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the development marks one of the most significant growth phases in DIFC’s history. The Zabeel District is designed not only to increase capacity, but to redefine the district as an integrated business, living, and innovation environment.
Table of Contents
Doubling the Scale of Dubai’s Financial Centre
The DIFC Zabeel District spans a site area of 7.1 million square feet, with a planned total gross floor area of 17.7 million square feet. The masterplan will be delivered in six phases, with the first phase expected to open around 2030 and full completion targeted by 2040.
Upon completion, the expansion is projected to:
- Accommodate more than 42,000 companies
- Support a workforce exceeding 125,000 professionals
- Effectively double DIFC’s overall size and operational capacity
This large-scale increase in infrastructure reflects Dubai’s long-term strategy to deepen its role as a global hub for financial services while expanding into high-growth sectors such as technology, artificial intelligence, and innovation-driven industries.
A Mixed-Use Urban Extension of DIFC
The Zabeel District is planned as a fully integrated extension of the existing financial centre, physically linked to DIFC Gate District by a signature connection. The development will combine business infrastructure with lifestyle and community elements, including:
- Grade A commercial office space
- Residential developments
- Retail and hospitality assets
- Hotels and conference facilities
- Cultural and public spaces
- Education and training institutions
By blending commercial, residential, and social infrastructure, the project supports a live-work ecosystem aimed at attracting global firms and international talent seeking both business opportunity and quality of life.
Technology and Innovation at the Core
A defining feature of the DIFC makeover is its strong focus on future industries. More than one million square feet has been allocated to future technologies and innovation-focused facilities.
Key components include:
- An expanded Innovation Hub
- A purpose-built AI Campus designed to support over 6,000 businesses and 30,000 technology specialists
A Gaming and Immersive Technologies Hub
Education and skills development also form a central pillar. DIFC Academy is set to grow significantly, with its footprint expected to expand to around 370,000 square feet, enabling capacity for up to 50,000 learners annually. This expansion supports Dubai’s ambition to strengthen local talent pipelines while attracting global expertise.
Enhancing Dubai’s Position in Global Finance
Officials have described the Zabeel District as a critical milestone in advancing Dubai’s financial sector regionally and internationally. The expansion aligns with broader economic strategies that link urban development with sectoral growth, ensuring that financial services, technology, education, and lifestyle infrastructure evolve together.
By broadening its scope beyond traditional finance into innovation and knowledge-based sectors, DIFC is reinforcing its role not just as a financial centre, but as a global platform for business, technology, and future industries. The Zabeel District represents a structural upgrade designed to increase capacity, elevate urban quality, and strengthen Dubai’s pull for global capital, companies, and talent.
