Latest news with #DubaiInternationalFinancialCentre
Trade Arabia
2 days ago
- Business
- Trade Arabia
Dubai Future District Fund driving $1.6bn in capital commitments
The Dubai Future District Fund (DFDF), a venture capital fund anchored by Dubai International Financial Centre and Dubai Future Foundation, has over the years strengthened its global partnerships, driving $1.65 billion in capital commitments and powering over 190 startups. Unveiling the key highlights from its 2024 performance at the Annual General Meeting, DFDF celebrated a year of strategic growth, deepened alignment with Dubai's economic vision, and bold steps toward fostering a resilient, inclusive innovation ecosystem. The AGM also served as a platform to outline DFDF's focus for 2025, designated nationally as the Year of the Community. Reflecting on the UAE's declaration of 2024 as the Year of Sustainability, DFDF emphasised the Fund's sharpened commitment to long-term value creation, responsible innovation, and community-minded investment. Throughout the year, DFDF strengthened its partnerships with founders, investors, and stakeholders tackling real-world challenges, reinforcing the Fund's dual role as both a capital allocator and ecosystem enabler. The Board of Directors reported significant milestones across the Fund's investment mandate, including: *Support for over 190 portfolio companies, through both direct investments and 12 Fund of Funds initiatives *More than $1.65 billion in capital commitments raised by supported funds as of year-end 2024 *Continued alignment with the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), enhancing the Fund's role in advancing technology, talent, and venture capital in the region Khalfan Belhoul, DFDF Board of Directors Chairman and CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation said: "These achievements underscore the central role that the Dubai Future District Fund plays in driving the growth of Dubai's digital economy – one that thrives on innovation and leverages the latest future technologies across key sectors." In 2024, DFDF went beyond its core investment activities to showcase how venture capital can serve as a conduit for public-private collaboration and scalable innovation. The Fund published value creation case studies in partnership with key institutions across sectors – spotlighting its growing role as a strategic enabler, it stated. This included forward-looking engagements with Dubai Land Department and Dubai Health, exploring innovation partnerships that align government priorities with startup-driven solutions. DFDF also piloted projects with Nestlé and AWS, aimed at identifying opportunities around technology adoption, and business enablement. These initiatives reflect DFDF's broader commitment to translating capital into impact – fostering not only financial returns, but also operational value, strategic insights, and innovation capacity across the region's future economy stakeholders, it added. On its future outlook, DFDF said it remains committed to building stronger bridges across the innovation landscape – between founders and funders, startups and regulators, and the region and global markets. "Innovation thrives not in isolation, but within inclusive, connected communities," remarked Arif Amiri, DFDF Board Member and Chief Executive Officer of DIFC Authority. "As the Fund continues to position Dubai as a global pioneer for innovation, we are more committed than ever to cultivating collaboration with partners globally who are also committed to driving future economic growth," he stated. DFDF's key focus areas for 2025 include expanded capital deployment, prioritising funds and co-investments that support ecosystem building and economic resilience, and deeper ecosystem engagement, with platforms that bring together top founders, investors, operators, and policymakers to foster shared growth. Nader Albastaki, Managing Director at DFDF said: "2024 marked a pivotal year for DFDF, where purpose met performance. We scaled our investments, aligned with Dubai's strategies, and supported innovators driving meaningful change."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ripple's Stablecoin, RLUSD, Gets Stamp of Approval in Dubai
Ripple's U.S dollar pegged RLUSD has received regulatory approval from Dubai's financial watchdog, clearing the way for its use within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the company said Tuesday. The Dubai Financial Services Authority's decision means RLUSD can now be integrated into Ripple's licensed payments platform and potentially leveraged by other DFSA-registered entities. That development could help expand Ripple's footprint in the region's fast-growing digital asset ecosystem, where regulatory clarity has been a key factor driving adoption. 'This approval reinforces RLUSD's position as a stablecoin built with regulatory compliance and transparency at its core,' Ripple said in a statement. RLUSD is 1:1 backed by U.S. dollars held in high-quality liquid assets and subject to third-party audits, a move aimed at addressing institutional concerns around stablecoin reserves. However, questions remain about real-world adoption. While RLUSD's approval theoretically allows DFSA-regulated firms to use the token, it's unclear how many will actually integrate the stablecoin into their systems. The approval comes as Ripple continues to build its presence in the UAE. Recent partnerships include agreements with local banks and payments firms like Zand Bank and Mamo, and the company has also teamed up with Ctrl Alt on a real estate tokenization project for Dubai's Land Department. Institutional stablecoin adoption has grown rapidly in the UAE, with Ripple citing a 55% year-over-year increase in transactions.
Mid East Info
3 days ago
- Business
- Mid East Info
StashAway Appoints New Country Manager, Reaffirms Commitment to Financial Education in the UAE - Middle East Business News and Information
Raaed Sheibani will lead growth and financial inclusion efforts in the UAE Dubai, UAE –June 2025 – StashAway, a digital investment platform across Asia and the Middle East, has appointed Raaed Sheibani as its new country manager for the United Arab Emirates (UAE). His appointment comes as StashAway joins the Dubai International Financial Centre's (DIFC) '1 Million Learners' initiative as a founding partner, as part of StashAway's longstanding commitment to financial education in the UAE. Raaed will lead StashAway's strategic growth in the UAE, with a focus on empowering both young professionals and high-net-worth (HNW) individuals to build long-term wealth. Under his leadership, the company plans to broaden its private market and Shariah offerings, enhance customer experience, and expand financial education outreach in the UAE. 'The UAE is a strategic market for us. With its thriving expat community and a rising generation of young investors, we're seeing strong demand for sophisticated, globally diversified investment solutions,' said Michele Ferrario, Co-founder and CEO of StashAway. 'Raaed brings deep local insights and a genuine passion for financial inclusion – exactly what we need to drive our next chapter in the UAE.' Raaed brings a breadth of experience across fintech, strategy consulting, business development, and product management. Most recently, he was Head of Growth and Operations at Qlub, a global SaaS payments innovator, where he led customer and product development for the UAE. 'I'm excited to join a company that's truly focused on empowering people to invest, save, and learn,' said Raaed Sheibani. 'There's a clear need in the UAE for an investment platform that's simple, transparent, and cost-effective. I look forward to deepening our local impact by enhancing our offering to serve the unique needs of UAE investors and expanding our financial education efforts.' Driving financial inclusion through education and innovation: StashAway is a founding partner of DIFC's newly launched '1 Million Learners' Sustainability Initiative, which aims to equip one million people with essential knowledge in finance, sustainability, and technology. This builds on StashAway's longstanding commitment to financial literacy, delivered through: StashAway Academy: Free educational resources, including webinars, articles, and e-newsletters, that explain complex investment topics in simple, jargon-free language. Financial Wellness Programme: A non-commercial initiative that helps companies empower employees with essential financial knowledge, offered entirely free of charge. StashAway has also spearheaded innovation in the UAE's financial services industry. It introduced the country's first open banking-powered recurring deposit feature, allowing clients to automate investments through a partnership with Lean Technologies. In 2024, StashAway launched StashAway Reserve in the UAE – a dedicated offering for HNW investors. Reserve offers access to unbiased wealth advisory and private markets at significantly lower minimums and fees compared to traditional banks. StashAway is licensed by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) to provide investment advisory and asset management services to both retail and professional clients in the UAE. About StashAway StashAway is a digital investment platform that was launched in 2017 to empower people to build and protect wealth in the long term. Offering simple, intelligent, and cost-effective investment and cash management solutions, StashAway has led the way in transforming the way people invest and grow wealth. Today, StashAway operates in five markets, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, the UAE, and Thailand, with billions of dollars in assets under management. The company was recognised by The World Economic Forum as a Technology Pioneer in 2020 and ranked among CNBC's World's Top Fintech Companies in 2023 and 2024. About Raaed Sheibani, Country Manager, UAE, at StashAway Raaed is the Country Manager for the UAE at StashAway, a leading digital investment platform. He is responsible for driving StashAway's strategic growth in the region, overseeing customer acquisition, education, partnerships, and operations. StashAway is known for its data-driven investment strategies and is trusted with billions of dollars by clients across Asia and the Middle East. Raaed brings a breadth of experience across fintech, strategy consulting, business development, and product management. Prior to joining StashAway, he was Head of Growth and Operations for the UAE at Qlub, a global SaaS payments company, where he shaped customer and product experiences. Raaed also spent several years in management consulting, including at McKinsey & Company, advising public and private sector leaders across the MENA region. Earlier in his career, Raaed was a Product Manager at CarSwitch, a leading automotive startup in the UAE. Raaed holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from The University of Manchester.
Fintech News ME
4 days ago
- Business
- Fintech News ME
Singapore's StashAway Appoints Raaed Sheibani as UAE Country Manager
StashAway, a digital investment platform operating across Asia and the Middle East, has named Raaed Sheibani as its new Country Manager for the UAE. His appointment coincides with StashAway's participation in the Dubai International Financial Centre's (DIFC) '1 Million Learners' initiative as a founding partner. In his new role, Raaed will oversee StashAway's strategic development in the UAE, with an emphasis on supporting young professionals and high net worth individuals in building long-term wealth. The company, under his leadership, plans to develop its offerings in private markets and Shariah-compliant investments, improve customer experience, and extend its financial education programmes in the country. 'The UAE is a strategic market for us. With its thriving expatriate community and a rising generation of young investors, we are seeing strong demand for sophisticated, globally diversified investment solutions,' said Michele Ferrario, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of StashAway. 'Raaed brings deep local insights and a genuine passion for financial inclusion – exactly what we need to drive our next chapter in the UAE.' Raaed has a background in fintech, strategy consulting, business development and product management. Prior to joining StashAway, he was Head of Growth and Operations at Qlub, a global software-as-a-service payments firm, where he led customer and product development for the UAE. 'I am excited to join a company that is truly focused on empowering people to invest, save and learn,' said Raaed Sheibani. 'There is a clear need in the UAE for an investment platform that is simple, transparent and cost effective. I look forward to deepening our local impact by enhancing our offering to meet the needs of UAE investors and expanding our financial education efforts.'
Hi Dubai
22-05-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
DFSA Launches 2025 Graduate Programme to Develop UAE Financial Regulators
· The 2025 DFSA Graduate Programme reflects the regulator's commitment to empowering young United Arab Emirates (UAE) Nationals to develop the skills and expertise they need to grow their careers in financial services. · 57 UAE National graduates have benefited from the DFSA's Graduate Programme since its inception. · Investment in early-career development enables the regulator to build a pipeline of professionals who will influence the future of finance and contribute to shaping the sustainable growth, innovation, and diversification of the UAE's economy. The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), the independent regulator of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), has announced the launch of its 2025 DFSA Graduate Programme, reaffirming its commitment to nurturing UAE National talent and developing professionals in the financial services sector. The 2025 DFSA Graduate Programme aims to attract high-potential UAE National graduates and provide them with structured training to prepare them for impactful careers in financial services and regulation. Fadel Al Ali, Chairman of the DFSA, said: Empowering and investing in young United Arab Emirates' National talent is a priority for the DFSA. However, our Graduate Programme is more than a training initiative – it is a platform to prepare the next generation of financial services professionals who will ensure that the United Arab Emirates' financial sector remains innovative, resilient, and globally competitive. I am proud to see the DFSA playing a key role in developing future United Arab Emirates' National professionals who will help to shape the future of finance. The DFSA's flagship Graduate Programme is designed to foster the professional growth and career progression of young UAE Nationals. It combines on-the-job experience with dedicated structured training plans, mentorship, coaching, and the completion of industry-specific professional qualifications. The programme has been running successfully since 2006 and has contributed to building a steady flow of UAE National professionals who have gone on to work in various parts of the financial services sector, with many holding top roles in the UAE's financial and government institutions and ministries. Aisha Emara, DFSA Graduate Programme alumna and now Senior Manager, Markets, Strategy & Risk at the DFSA, commented: The DFSA Graduate Programme is the perfect transition from academia to the work environment, as the comprehensive training pathway combines both theoretical and on-the-job experience. The programme also provides the opportunity to learn from talented and experienced international regulators, allowing you to build your network and develop your career in financial services regulation and beyond. Starting in September 2025, the DFSA Graduate Programme spans two consecutive years, providing participants with practical skills, global perspectives, and the foundations necessary to drive innovation, ensure market integrity, and promote sustainable economic growth. Successful graduates will have the opportunity to develop and apply a breadth of technical skills and knowledge across all aspects of the DFSA's regulatory activities. The programme will help them to build strong professional and leadership skills, gain valuable experience working in an internationally focused environment, and achieve industry-specific qualifications. This comprehensive early-career development will equip them to become future leaders within the UAE and the financial services sector. The DFSA's focus on talent development through the 2025 Graduate Programme and other initiatives will continue to play a pivotal role in ensuring that the DIFC, Dubai, and the United Arab Emirates, excels as a global centre for forward-thinking and innovative finance. said Fadel Al Ali. Join the 2025 DFSA Graduate Programme If you are a UAE National who has recently graduated or are about to complete your studies, we encourage you to apply for the DFSA Graduate Programme. Applications are now open and will close on 30 June 2025. Candidates should apply via the DFSA website and applications should include a detailed CV. Candidates who meet the DFSA's selection criteria will be invited to participate in an interview and undertake aptitude and psychometric assessments at the DFSA office. Successful candidates will commence the programme in September 2025.
