Chinese investment bank CICC opens branch in Dubai's DIFC
Investment bank China International Capital Corporation (CICC) has officially launched its branch at Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), strengthening China's financial presence in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region.
Operating under China International Capital Corporation Hong Kong Securities and trading as CICC (DIFC Branch
)
, the new office holds a category 4 license and is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA).
CICC's entry into
Currently, around 30 per cent of Chinese firms operating in DIFC are Fortune 500 companies.
Dubai a top destination for Chinese investments
'Dubai and DIFC remain a top destination for Chinese investments, further accentuated by a surge in interest from banks, wealth and asset management firms, large corporations, and insurance sector market players,' said Essa Kazim, governor of DIFC. 'We are delighted to welcome CICC to DIFC, bolstering the strategic relations between the UAE and China.'
Kazim added that DIFC provides a well-developed ecosystem designed to support Chinese businesses looking to scale across MEASA, and pointed to growing synergies between China's strengths in research and technology and Dubai's ambition to lead in artificial intelligence through initiatives such as the Dubai AI Campus.
Chen Liang, chairman of
From UAE, a key gateway for the Gulf region, we will build tailored solutions to serve regional clients' evolving needs while supporting Chinese enterprises seeking strategic opportunities abroad,' he added.
CICC to enable two-way investment banking gateway
CICC is positioning the new Dubai branch as a premier two-way investment banking gateway between China and the Gulf region.
The bank plans to work closely with sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, and major corporations to structure cross-border investments and facilitate greater participation in China's capital market projects.
Founded as China's first joint venture investment bank, CICC has been instrumental in the development of China's capital markets. It combines global best practices with deep local expertise across investment banking, asset management, FICC (fixed income, currencies, and commodities), wealth management, and private equity.
It operates globally through offices in Hong Kong SAR, New York, London, Singapore, Frankfurt, and Tokyo.
With the DIFC launch, CICC is seeking to deepen financial ties under China's Belt and Road Initiative, while expanding its influence in the region's financial services ecosystem.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Tahawul Tech
2 hours ago
- Tahawul Tech
Kaspersky highlights biometric, signature risks with attempts up by 21.2% in UAE
Kaspersky has detected and blocked over 142 million phishing link clicks globally in Q2 2025, the UAE saw a 21.2% increase from Q1 in phishing attempts. Currently phishing is going through a shift driven by sophisticated AI-powered deception techniques and innovative evasion methods. Cybercriminals are exploiting deepfakes, voice cloning and trusted platforms like Telegram and Google Translate to steal sensitive data, including biometrics, electronic signatures and handwritten signatures, posing unprecedented risks to individuals and businesses. AI-powered tactics transforming phishing attacks AI has elevated phishing into a highly personalized threat. Large language models enable attackers to craft convincing emails, messages and websites that mimic legitimate sources, eliminating grammatical errors that once exposed scams. AI-driven bots on social media and messaging apps impersonate real users, engaging victims in prolonged conversations to build trust. These bots often fuel romantic or investment scams, luring victims into fake opportunities with AI-generated audio messages or deepfake videos. Attackers also create realistic audio and video deepfake impersonations of trusted figures — colleagues, celebrities or even bank officials — to promote fake giveaways or extract sensitive information. For instance, automated calls mimicking bank security teams use AI-generated voices to trick users into sharing two-factor authentication (2FA) codes, enabling account access or fraudulent transactions. Additionally, AI-powered tools analyze public data from social media or corporate websites to launch targeted attacks, such as HR-themed emails or fake calls referencing personal details. Employing new tactics to bypass detection Phishers are deploying sophisticated methods to gain trust, exploiting legitimate services to prolong their campaigns. For instance, Telegram's Telegraph platform, a tool to publish long texts, is used to host phishing content. Google Translate's page translation feature generates links that look like and are used by attackers to bypass security solutions' filters. Attackers now also integrate CAPTCHA, a common anti-bot mechanism, into phishing sites before directing users to the malicious page itself. By using CAPTCHA, these fraudulent pages deflect anti-phishing algorithms, as the presence of CAPTCHA is often associated with trusted platforms, lowering the likelihood of detection. A switch in hunting: from logins and passwords to biometrics and signatures The focus has shifted from passwords to immutable data. Attackers target biometric data through fraudulent sites that request smartphone camera access under pretexts like account verification, capturing facial or other biometric identifiers that cannot be changed. These are used for unauthorized access to sensitive accounts or sold on the dark web. Similarly, electronic and handwritten signatures, critical for legal and financial transactions, are stolen via phishing campaigns impersonating platforms like DocuSign or prompting users to upload signatures to fraudulent sites, posing significant reputational and financial risks to businesses. 'The convergence of AI and evasive tactics has turned phishing into a near-native mimic of legitimate communication, challenging even the most vigilant users. Attackers are no longer satisfied with stealing passwords — they're targeting biometric data, electronic and handwritten signatures, potentially creating devastating, long-term consequences. By exploiting trusted platforms like Telegram and Google Translate, and co-opting tools like CAPTCHA, attackers are outpacing traditional defenses. Users must stay increasingly skeptical and proactive to avoid falling victim,' said Olga Altukhova, security expert at Kaspersky. Earlier in 2025 Kaspersky detected a sophisticated targeted phishing campaign which was dubbed Operation ForumTroll, as attackers sent personalized phishing emails inviting recipients to the 'Primakov Readings' forum. These lures targeted media outlets, educational institutions and government organizations in Russia. After clicking on the link in the email, no additional action was needed to compromise their systems: the exploit leveraged a previously unknown vulnerability in the latest version of Google Chrome. The malicious links were extremely short-lived to evade detection and in most cases ultimately redirected to the legitimate website for 'Primakov Readings' once the exploit was taken down. To be protected from phishing, Kaspersky recommends: Verify unsolicited messages, calls, or links, even if they appear legitimate. Never share 2FA codes. Scrutinize videos for unnatural movements or overly generous offers, which may indicate deepfakes. Deny camera access requests from unverified sites and avoid uploading signatures to unknown platforms. Limit sharing sensitive details online, such as document photos or sensitive work information. Use Kaspersky Next (in corporate environments) or Kaspersky Premium (for individual use) to block phishing attempts.
Khaleej Times
2 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Babyshop – Elevating Back to School for the Class of 2025
From backpacks to bento boxes - the brand has every essential covered As the school bells get ready to ring again, excitement is in the air. New classes, new friends, and new adventures await the Class of 2025 and for parents, it's the perfect time to gear up with essentials that balance quality, style, and value. Babyshop steps in as the trusted partner for this journey, making sure every child begins the year prepared, confident, and ready to shine. From uniforms and backpacks to bottles, lunchboxes, and more, Babyshop ensures the Class of 2025 is all set for success, every step of the way. This year's backpack collection, starting at just Dh49, combines functionality, comfort, and fun. Ergonomically designed with padded straps and honeycomb ventilation, the bags reduce pressure and heat - perfect for warm climates. Innovative styles feature LED lights and smart compartments to keep everything in place, while licensed ranges such as Lamborghini, Ferrari, NBA, and Xbox cater to kids who love to stand out. Babyshop's character collections bring magic to school days, with choices like Spiderman, Sonic, Hot Wheels, Naruto, Mickey Mouse, Batman, and Disney Stitch for boys, and Disney Frozen, Hello Kitty, Minnie, Kuromi, and Barbie for girls. A new, exclusive Fisher-Price range has also been introduced for the littlest learners. While the characters add excitement, Babyshop guarantees the safety, durability, and quality behind every piece. School lunches get an upgrade with bento-style lunchboxes made from high-grade Tritan plastic - durable, stain-resistant, and free from lingering food smells. Designed to be microwave and dishwasher safe, they make mealtime both fun and practical. Matching insulated lunch bags, starting from Dh19, keep food fresh all day, while BPA-free water bottles, from AED 12, are leak-proof, easy to grip, and available in vibrant designs - some even featuring a mist spray for hot days. Uniforms, starting at Dh17, combine comfort, durability, and style with breathable, cotton-rich fabrics built to handle busy school days and frequent washes. For even better value, Babyshop offers 3-in-1 and 5-in-1 bundles from Dh69, with coordinated backpacks, water bottles, lunchboxes, and more-making back-to-school shopping easier than ever. Every school bag purchase unlocks over Dh3,000 worth of exclusive offers through Babyshop's partnership with Kidzapp, featuring Aster Pharmacy, Aster Clinics, Aster Opticals, Legoland, British Orchard Nursery, Rehla Box, Cheeky Monkeys, Orange Wheels, Orange Hub, Ready Set Go, Piccoli, Zafran, Carluccios, Sugarmoo, Osterio, and Shvili Restaurants. With a two-year warranty on all bags, water bottles, and meal boxes, Babyshop stands behind every purchase, understanding that real life comes with bumps, drops, and everything in between. It's more than a policy - it's a promise of peace of mind for parents. Parents can visit their nearest Babyshop store or shop online at - because the Class of 2025 deserves nothing less than the very best start.
Arabian Business
3 hours ago
- Arabian Business
Dubai construction inspections surge 36% in 2025 as sustainability efforts hit new milestone
Dubai Municipality has ramped up its oversight of the emirate's building sector, completing more than 25,000 field inspections in the first half of 2025 — a 36 per cent jump compared to the same period last year. The inspections covered more than 18,800 active construction sites with a combined built-up area of more than 36 million square metres, up 11 per cent year-on-year, reflecting Dubai's continued expansion in real estate and infrastructure. The Municipality reported a 96 per cent compliance rate, underscoring its push to ensure safety, quality, and sustainability in line with Dubai's ambition to be the world's smartest and most sustainable city in construction. Dubai construction inspections Between January and June, 1,669 building completion certificates were issued, up 30 per cent from 2024, adding nearly 2 million square metres of new residential, commercial, and industrial space. This included: 1,484 villas 74 multi-storey buildings 60 industrial facilities Maryam Al Muhairi, CEO of the Buildings Regulation and Permits Agency at Dubai Municipality, said: 'Dubai Municipality places great emphasis on precise engineering oversight of construction activities, considering it a key tool to regulate the sector and elevate its standards, in line with our unwavering commitment to developing it into the world's smartest and most sustainable. 'We aim to provide a safe and sustainable construction environment, applying the highest quality and safety standards at all stages, which contribute to enhancing residents' quality of life and reinforcing Dubai's position as a leading hub in construction and building. 'Today, Dubai is not just a rapidly developing city — it is a global platform offering a sustainable model for future urban development. We remain committed to pursuing this ambitious vision, working hand in hand with our partners in the construction sector to drive sustainability, excellence, and innovation.' Sustainability remains central to Dubai's construction strategy. In the first half of 2025, more than 1.5 million cubic metres of green concrete were used, while 16.4 million cubic metres of soil were recycled — equivalent to filling 6,500 Olympic swimming pools. The Municipality also issued 4,222 sand transport and supply permits and approved 1,126 free sand requests for Emirati citizens building private villas. These measures form part of a wider vision to streamline building procedures, enhance governance, and maintain legislative flexibility, reinforcing the emirate's appeal as a global investment hub in the construction sector.
