WTW has announced it has received approval from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) to operate as WTW Investments (DIFC) Limited within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), giving the firm its first formal regulatory foothold to offer investment advisory services and arrange access to fund solutions in and from the financial hub.
“With the DFSA license now in place we can fully engage the market with wealth managers, family offices and institutional clients who increasingly require the caliber of thinking and innovation that WTW is known for,” said Diya Luke, global head of investments at WTW.
The license enables WTW to target wealth managers, family offices, institutional clients and segments such as end-of-service benefits and auto-enrollment – areas the company said are seeing accelerated growth as the Middle East’s financial ecosystem matures, according to a company press release.
The approval comes as DIFC continues to expand its position as a global financial services hub. Authorities have reported sustained growth in insurance and reinsurance activity, with 28 firms added to the centre’s ecosystem through 2025 and early 2026.
Prior to obtaining the license, WTW Investments had already been active in the region, providing strategic advisory work to sovereign wealth funds and public pension plans, and supporting employers headquartered in the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia with integrated international pension and savings plan services, the company said.
The announcement comes as DIFC’s insurance ecosystem continues to expand, with gross written premiums rising to about US$4.2 billion in 2025 and ongoing growth in insurer and reinsurer activity across the center. The momentum has been supported by global firms increasing their regional footprint, drawn by access to MEASA-region capital markets and cross-border investment activity, according to the Government of Dubai Media Office.
His Excellency Arif Amiri, CEO of the DIFC Authority, said WTW’s scale added weight to the financial center’s credentials. “With more than US$3.6 trillion in assets under advisory and US$187 billion in assets under management, WTW Investments brings significant global expertise in investment advisory and institutional consulting to the DIFC community,” Amiri said.
Dr. Ahmad Waarie, director of WTW Investments (DIFC) and head of MENA at WTW, said the license marked a step toward deeper client relationships on the ground. “Our clients in the region have always valued the rigour and independence that WTW brings to investment decision-making. Now, with an established regulated presence in the DIFC, we can build deeper relationships, expanding the range of services we deliver on the ground,” Waarie said.
Amid these activities, the DFSA has advanced its 2025–2026 regulatory agenda focused on strengthening Dubai’s position as a global financial gateway. The framework prioritizes regulatory modernization, improved market efficiency and support for innovation in financial services.
