Dubai Future District Fund reports $1.65bn boost, support for 190 startups
Dubai Future District Fund (DFDF), has unveiled a dynamic performance update for 2024 at its Annual General Meeting, highlighting more than $1.65bn in capital commitments and strategic support for more than 190 portfolio companies.
The announcement cements DFDF's position as a key driver of innovation, talent development, and venture capital growth aligned with the emirate's Economic Agenda (D33).
Throughout 2024, dubbed the UAE's Year of Sustainability, DFDF accelerated its mission to foster long-term value through responsible innovation and community-focused investment. The Fund's impact extended beyond capital, playing a pivotal role in advancing public-private partnerships that align government priorities with startup-led solutions.
Dubai Future District Fund
Support for more than 190 startups and scale-ups in the city
Engagements with Land Department and Dubai Health to co-create innovation strategies
Pilots with Nestlé and AWS to drive tech adoption and operational excellence
Ongoing ecosystem partnerships through 12 Fund of Funds initiatives
Khalfan Belhoul, the 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.'
As 2025 is officially designated by the UAE as the Year of the Community, DFDF is setting its sights on deepening collaboration across the innovation landscape—from startup founders and global investors to government bodies and regulators.
Arif Amiri, DFDF Board Member and CEO of DIFC Authority, said: 'Innovation thrives not in isolation, but within inclusive, connected communities. 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.'
For 2025, DFDF's strategic focus will include:
Expanding capital deployment to funds and startups that drive economic resilience in the emirate
Strengthening ecosystem platforms that connect founders, operators, investors, and policymakers
Scaling impact-driven innovation aligned with Dubai's vision as a global hub for future economies
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.
'As we enter 2025—the Year of the Community—we're excited to focus on deeper collaboration, ecosystem resilience, and a shared vision of Dubai as a global capital of innovation and opportunity.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
24 minutes ago
- Zawya
Wealthbrix announces official market entry from DIFC
DUBAI: Wealthbrix Capital Partners Limited, a newly launched independent wealth management firm, today announced its official market entry from Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading global financial hub in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA region). Founded by a team of seasoned professionals from private banking and asset management, the firm brings together over 150 years of collective leadership experience and a track record managing more than US$30 billion in AUM from Middle Eastern, Asian, and European clients. Wealthbrix enters the market with a clear purpose: to deliver a client-first approach to wealth management that is independent, holistic, and agile - reflecting the ambitions of global upwardly mobile wealth creators and the shifting centre of gravity in global capital. 'This is the Dubai moment - an inflection point where global capital, regional ambition, and client expectations are converging,' said Dr. Hamad Buamim, Chairman of the Advisory Board, Wealthbrix Capital Partners Limited. 'Today's wealth creators want more than access to products. They expect a partner who can build and preserve their legacy, support their ambitions, and provide unbiased, high-impact advice.' This launch comes at a pivotal moment for wealth managers. An estimated US$85-100 trillion in global wealth is expected to change hands by 2050 in what is being called the 'Great Wealth Transfer' – including approximately US$1 trillion in the GCC alone. This represents an unprecedented opportunity driven by next gen millionaires. This is juxtaposed by the UAE benefitting from this seismic shift, with more than 6,700 new millionaires having relocated to Dubai in 2024 alone, over 68,000 HNWIs and UHNWIs now based in the country, and more than 30,000 expected to arrive over the next five years, solidifying the UAE's status as a leading global hub for the new generation of high-net-worth individuals. A growing share of global capital is concentrated in two fast-expanding, high-growth segments: Mid-Tier Millionaires (MTMs) with investable assets between US$5 million and US$30 million, and UHNWIs with over US$30 million. MTMs alone account for nearly US$55 trillion in global wealth and are growing faster than the broader HNWI population. Often self-made and globally mobile, many in this group sit between upper-tier affluent and ultra-high-net-worth tiers - requiring a more tailored and sophisticated approach than standardised models typically provide. Meanwhile, the UHNWI population is projected to surge by 38 per cent over the next five years, with Asia and the Middle East driving the fastest growth globally. Together, MTMs and UHNWIs represent a rapidly expanding opportunity - one that sits at the heart of Wealthbrix's mission. These clients demand more than transactional advice; they seek a holistic approach that reflects their ambitions. This is where Wealthbrix steps in: bridging the gap between legacy models and modern client expectations through an independent platform that combines global structuring expertise with regional insight. Whether it's wealth preservation, succession, asset diversification, or fundraising, Wealthbrix is purpose-built to meet the needs of this influential and under-served segment. Wealthbrix builds on the momentum of a maturing wealth management landscape with a differentiated, partner-led model spanning private wealth, asset management, and corporate finance advisory. Fully licenced by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and headquartered in DIFC, Wealthbrix is designed to complement and elevate the existing wealth management ecosystem - delivering tailored, unbiased advice anchored in institutional discipline and enabled by advanced technology. Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer of DIFC Authority, said, 'We welcome Wealthbrix to DIFC's growing ecosystem of firms shaping the future of wealth and asset management. As the city with the highest concentration of wealth in the region, DIFC continues to attract firms that bring confidence, innovation, and a broad range of perspectives to the sector. We look forward to supporting Wealthbrix growth as they contribute to the evolution of the region's wealth management landscape.' As global asset managers flock to the UAE to tap into rising investor demand, Wealthbrix offers a differentiated, home-grown alternative - combining institutional discipline and strong in-house asset management capabilities across equities, fixed income, and real estate. As part of its long-term strategy, the firm is building a DIFC-based fund platform that aims to anchor investment activity locally, whilst aligning with the Dubai Economic Agenda to position Dubai at the forefront of innovation and economic growth. Wealthbrix enters the market as a well-capitalised institution, having closed an eight-figure USD equity funding round backed by a strategic group of global investors - including family offices, a venture capital firm, and angel investors from the region and beyond. This strong capital base provides the foundation to scale: attracting top industry talent, expanding product depth, and building a comprehensive value proposition. 'This is a rare moment to elevate and optimise how wealth is managed in the region,' said Rajesh Khanna, Chief Executive Officer of Wealthbrix Capital Partners Limited. 'Dubai offers a unique convergence of regulatory clarity, global talent, and a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem - making it the ideal base for a firm that is proudly home-grown, bold in ambition, and global in outlook. Built on a model that fully aligns our interests with those of our clients, Wealthbrix brings together open-architecture access, multiple global custody banks, in-house asset management, consolidated reporting, and debt & equity advisory to deliver bespoke, holistic solutions for today's discerning clients.' True to its independent model, Wealthbrix combines in-house capabilities with access to best-in-class managers, underpinned by a strong focus on client suitability and the reach to access opportunities across global markets. Wealthbrix is built on a hybrid model that optimally uses touch and tech enablement while delivering the desired client experience. Its secure, cloud-native platform consolidates client portfolios across banks and asset classes - providing a periodic, 360° view of performance and risk management.
Zawya
24 minutes ago
- Zawya
Escalating Hormuz tensions drive up Middle East war risk insurance costs, sources say
LONDON: U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and Tehran's reprisals have doubled the price of insuring shipments to the Middle East and the Gulf in the last week, insurance sources said on Monday. War risk insurance premiums for shipments to the Middle East Gulf have jumped to 0.5% from around 0.2-0.3% a week ago, as risks grow to the critical Strait of Hormuz, the sources said. The cost of a seven-day voyage is based on the value of the ship and the increase will add tens of thousands of dollars each day in additional costs. While underwriters typically price risk and rates individually, the current 0.5% level reflected rates on Monday, the sources told Reuters and The Insurer, a Reuters publication. "The position (on rates) is subject to constant change," said David Smith, head of marine with insurance broker McGill and Partners. Iran carried out a missile attack on a U.S. airbase in Qatar on Monday after the U.S. bombed Iranian nuclear sites at the weekend. The conflict has raised concerns Iran could close Hormuz, the strait between Iran and Oman through which around 20% of global oil and gas demand flows. That has spurred forecasts of oil surging to $100 a barrel. Shipping rates for supertankers, which can carry 2 million barrels of oil, have also soared, more than doubling in a week to over $60,000 a day, freight data shows. War risk rates have hovered around the 0.3% level in the Gulf for many months. Rates in the Red Sea area spiked to 1% in 2024 after Iran-backed Houthis launched attacks on commercial ships which they said were in solidarity with Palestinians fighting Israel in Gaza. War risk rates for Israeli ports have soared in recent days, quoted as much as 1%. London's marine insurance market opted on June 18 not to widen waters around the Gulf deemed high risk, which is closely watched by underwriters. "The listed areas have been left unchanged as ships calling or transiting most of the Middle East already have to notify underwriters, who can then assess such voyages on their merits," said Neil Roberts, secretary of the Joint War Committee, which comprises syndicate members from the Lloyd's Market Association and representatives from the London insurance company market. (Reporting by Jonathan Saul with Reuters and Michael Jones with The Insurer; Editing by Nia Williams and Rosalba O'Brien)
Khaleej Times
32 minutes ago
- Khaleej Times
Invest Group signs a master agency agreement with Fäm Properties
Invest Group Overseas has announced the signing of a Master Agency Agreement with leading brokerage Fäm Properties for the sales and marketing of three luxury real estate projects scheduled to launch over the next six months in the prime Dubai areas of Meydan and Al Furjan. The developments include two upscale residential buildings in Meydan and a gated compound of luxury villas in Al Furjan. This partnership represents one of the most significant exclusive deals in the current market, with further details and investment values to be announced in due course. All three projects are slated for launch within this year Dr. Anas Kozbari, Managing Partner/CEO of Invest Group Overseas, said: 'After extensive market research, we identified Fäm Properties as the ideal partner for our upcoming projects due to their strong reputation and proven expertise in the luxury segment. Dubai's property market is intensely competitive — it's no longer about offering a premium product alone, but about creating a complete experience rooted in quality, transparency, and innovation. These are values we uphold across every stage of development.' He continued: 'At IGO, we're focused on expanding our footprint in Dubai through the introduction of bold, high-value concepts that redefine luxury living and push the market forward in both design and delivery.' Firas Al Msaddi, Founder and CEO of Fäm Properties, said: 'We are proud to be the master sales and marketing partner for a visionary group like Invest Overseas. These projects stand out in both design and location and are set to attract discerning investors and homeowners. With a team of over 1,200 real estate professionals across our organization, we have the depth and market reach to ensure these premium offerings get the visibility and results they deserve.' The upcoming projects will offer a mix of luxury apartments, office spaces, and high-end villas.
