Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai and Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, has announced a AED100bn ($27bn) expansion of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) through the creation of the DIFC Zabeel District.

According to a statement from the Government of Dubai Media Office, the DIFC Zabeel District will add over 7 million square feet (sq ft), with a total gross floor area of 17.7 million sq ft.

The new district is expected to more than double DIFC’s capacity to over 42,000 businesses, support a workforce exceeding 125,000 and allocate more than 1 million sq ft for future technologies and artificial intelligence (AI).

Planned in six phases, the expansion is scheduled to open to the public in 2030, with the masterplan due for completion in 2040.

Cnstruction works on the first phase are already under way.

Mohammed bin Rashid launches “Zabeel District – Dubai International Financial Centre” driven by exceptional demand

Largest internal expansion of a financial centre in the region

Development value
AED 100 billion

Site area
7.1 million sq ft

Additional gross floor area
17.7… pic.twitter.com/7H2np4EZVx

The project will include an innovation hub of more than 1 million sq ft, featuring an AI campus designed to support more than 6,000 businesses and 30,000 technology specialists.

It will also house a gaming hub, aimed at positioning Dubai as a leader in next-generation gaming, simulation and digital content creation.

Aligned with Dubai’s Education 33 (E33) strategy, the DIFC expansion will also seek to attract top universities, becoming an international destination for higher education.

The DIFC Academy is also set to expand 10-fold, to 370,000 sq ft.

In addition, the expansion will introduce an art pavilion, strengthening DIFC’s cultural footprint, alongside a mix of commercial and residential spaces centred around a main boulevard.

The masterplan also includes conference facilities, hotels and retail outlets.

The DIFC Zabeel District will be linked to the existing DIFC Gate District by a bridge.

READ THE JANUARY 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

Saudi Arabia courts real estate investment; EVs and battery production are key regional tech themes; Muscat holds a steady growth course despite headwinds

Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the January 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes: