DIFC Zabeel District, a landmark expansion of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), has been launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
With an estimated gross development value exceeding AED100 billion ($27.2 billion), the district will consolidate its status as the leading global financial centre in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, while also reinforcing Dubai’s stature as the region’s preferred business and lifestyle destination, a WAM news agency report said.
DIFC Zabeel District is the largest demand-led expansion of a financial centre in the region, encompassing a massive site area of 7.1 million sq ft and total gross floor area of 17.7 million sq ft.
HH Sheikh Mohammed said: “Dubai continues to enhance its status as a leading global business and finance hub by launching landmark, futuristic projects that provide a comprehensive ecosystem integrating business requirements with high quality of life. This has made Dubai the preferred destination for businesses and talent worldwide.”
“DIFC Zabeel District is a key step towards advancing the financial sector in Dubai and worldwide. The new district will see DIFC surge in scale to accommodate over 42,000 companies, a workforce exceeding 125,000, and more than one million sq ft of space dedicated to future technologies and AI,” he added.
A ceremony held on site in Zabeel, adjacent to the existing DIFC Gate District, marked the public launch of the DIFC Zabeel District development.
The DIFC Zabeel District expansion represents a major leap in Dubai’s innovation and education landscape. Encompassing over 1 million sq ft, it will host the world’s largest Innovation Hub and the first purpose-built AI Campus, supporting more than 6,000 businesses and 30,000 tech professionals. The project will also feature a Gaming and Immersive Technologies Hub to position Dubai as a global centre for next-generation gaming and digital content creation.
Aligned with Dubai’s Education 33 (E33) strategy, the district will transform DIFC into the UAE’s leading hub for advanced education. The DIFC Academy will expand tenfold to accommodate 50,000 learners annually within a 370,000 sq ft facility.
The plan also includes a first-of-its-kind art pavilion, commercial and residential zones, a central boulevard, conference centre, hotels, and high-end retail integrated with smart infrastructure.
Being developed in six phases, DIFC Zabeel District will open to the public in 2030 and reach full completion by 2040, featuring seamless connectivity, walkability, and access to futuristic transport systems.