DIFC Innovation Hub

About DIFC Innovation Hub

The DIFC Innovation Hub is the place where you can contribute to the future of finance and be part of a community of over 25,000 professionals working across more than 2,500 firms.

About DIFC FinTech Hive

The DIFC FinTech Hive accelerator programme includes an intensive, competitive application process. It provides a springboard for seed and pre-seed start-ups to expand in the MEASA region. Successful start-ups will unlock opportunities to develop, test and modify their innovations in collaboration with top executives and world-leading financial institutions from DIFC’s comprehensive and innovative ecosystem.

DIFC Future Campus

The DIFC Innovation Hub provides access to best in class learning for under-graduates, post-graduates and executives through the DIFC Academy, the region’s most successful executive learning environment. The DIFC Academy’s four schools provide executive and academic programmes, business education, a school of law and access to acquiring future skills.

DIFC Innovation License

The DIFC Innovation License serves as a launchpad for relevant and cutting-edge technology, in the tech start-up and entrepreneurship sector, and enables you to tap into tech innovations across the MEASA region. License holders will join the 240+ technology firms in the region’s largest financial free zone. The Innovation License comes with subsidised commercial licensing options and access to DIFC co-working space at attractive rates.

DIFC FinTech Fund

DIFC’s FinTech Fund encourages applications from unique, innovative start-ups who are already generating revenue. Through the DIFC Innovation Hub, we can also make introductions to other sources of funding, such as venture capital firms who represent a number of limited partners.

DFSA Innovation Testing Licence (ITL)

The DFSA actively supports innovation in financial services and the DIFC market through its Innovation Programme. A key part of the Innovation Programme is the Innovation Testing Licence (ITL), a licenced-sandbox, which enables firms to test new and innovative financial products, services, and business models. For more information on the ITL and the Innovation Programme, visit DFSA website.

Community

DIFC is recognised as a leading world-class business and innovation destination tailored to meet the needs of a vibrant and diverse community. Gate Avenue at DIFC has become popular with start-ups, tech companies as well as a vibrant portfolio of restaurants, retailers and home-grown brands. It constructs the largest innovation ecosystem in the region and acts as a nucleus for early stage start-ups, growth stage start-ups, unicorns and big Tech firms to accelerate success.