fintech

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is the financial free zone of Dubai — established in 2004 on a 110-acre district off Sheikh Zayed Road. It hosts 5,500+ firms including ~75% of the world's top 50 banks, operates under English common law with its own DIFC Courts, and is regulated by the independent DFSA.

Wise is a digital-only money transfer service operating in the UAE since 2018, sending funds to 80+ currencies at the mid-market exchange rate plus a transparent percentage fee. There are no physical branches — transfers are initiated through the Wise app or website, and the service is typically 20–50% cheaper than traditional UAE exchange houses for major corridors.