Interview: Dubai’s DIFC CEO ‘optimistic’ about significant recovery in 2021

Interview: Dubai’s DIFC CEO ‘optimistic’ about significant recovery in 2021

Businesses embraced technology out of necessity during the global pandemic, which inspired firm decisions about issues companies had been considering for a while, according to Arif Amiri, CEO of DIFC Authority. Companies that support the future of finance will see continued growth in 2021, he says, meaning technology will play an increasingly crucial role.This applies to Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) itself, which launched a digital onboarding platform for businesses wishing to register there, although that decision was based on ease of doing business. In an interview with Zawya, Amiri offered a positive outlook on the prospects of the DIFC and Dubai for 2021. “I am optimistic about a significant recovery in the global economy and the financial sector overall,” he said. “During 2020, the DIFC provided and adapted its platform, which focused on being innovative, resilient, flexible and stable.”He continued, “We have created licences, laws and regulations that have enabled established firms as well as start-ups to reimagine their business models and seek new opportunities for success. We will see these come to the fore in 2021. The DIFC does not just focus on financial technology (fintech) but also about what it considers to be the ‘future of finance' companies, Amiri