• DMCC attracts 665 new companies in first quarter of 2022 – the highest Q1 performance since 2002 inception
• Increased registrations originating from China, India, UK, Germany and France
• A surge of increase in interest in setting up a company in Dubai from Israel, Turkey, Indonesia and Vietnam
• Crypto and blockchain firms represented 16% of the new companies that joined DMCC in Q1
• Q1 milestone follows DMCC’s best-ever year in 2021, when the award-winning Free Zone surpassed 20,000 member companies

DMCC – the world’s flagship Free Zone and Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise – welcomed 665 companies to its Free Zone in Dubai during the first quarter of 2022. This represents DMCC’s best first quarter since its inception over twenty years ago, a 13% year-on-year increase, and a 25% increase compared to the five-year average. The results demonstrate Dubai’s status as a world-class business destination and the ease of doing business by setting up a company in DMCC.

“The global economic climate remains challenging, however, Dubai’s reputation as a world-leading business destination is stronger than ever, and DMCC sits at the very heart of this international appeal. Registering 665 new companies in the first three months of 2022 is another record broken for DMCC, and serves to show the huge potential on offer when joining our Free Zone in Dubai. Looking ahead, we will keep up the momentum and go further and faster to attract the world’s most ambitious firms looking to set up and do business in Dubai. Following the overwhelming success of Expo 2020 Dubai, these are exciting times for the emirate and DMCC will push ahead and continue to promote the huge commercial potential that Dubai possesses,” said Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DMCC.

DMCC’s key markets such as India, UK, Germany and France performed stronger than the same period in previous years. DMCC also witnessed 34% increase in Dubai company formation from China in Q1 compared to the same period last year. Success in China follows DMCC’s significant Mandarin engagement programmes that run country-wide throughout the year, and its representative office in Shenzhen.

Meanwhile, specific outreach programmes to markets such as Israel and Turkey have led to an increase in quarterly company registrations by 350% and 100% during the quarter, respectively. DMCC has also registered growing interest from emerging trade hubs such as Indonesia and Vietnam.

Following the launch of the DMCC Crypto Centre in May 2021, DMCC has seen a surge in the number of crypto and blockchain businesses joining its Free Zone. In the first quarter of 2022 alone, 16% of all company registrations were for crypto-related activities.

This record-breaking quarter follows on from DMCC’s best-ever year in 2021, in which it attracted 2,485 companies to Dubai. This milestone pushed DMCC past the 20,000 member companies milestone, indicating DMCC’s significant value proposition to businesses looking to expand internationally by setting up a company in Dubai, and tap into global trade.

For more information on how to set up a business at DMCC, please visit: www.dmcc.ae/free-zone/set-up-a-new-company.