Dubai’s Financial Bridge: Maktoum bin Mohammed Meets with Brookfield CEO Bruce Flatt
His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Finance, held high-level discussions with Bruce Flatt, Chief Executive Officer of Brookfield Corporation. The meeting, centered on the strategic expansion of one of the world’s largest alternative asset management firms within the region, underscores Dubai’s accelerating ascent as a primary node in the global financial network.
As Chairman of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Sheikh Maktoum highlighted the emirate’s value proposition for institutional capital, citing an integrated financial ecosystem, a sophisticated regulatory framework, and advanced digital infrastructure as core pillars of the city’s investment appeal. The dialogue follows Dubai’s recent advancement to seventh place in the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI), its highest ranking to date.
The discussions focused on Dubai’s strategic function as a "bridge" between Eastern and Western markets. Both parties examined the city's capacity to facilitate sustainable, long-term growth through a business-friendly environment that remains aligned with shifting global investment paradigms. Brookfield, which manages approximately $900 billion in assets globally, has maintained a significant presence in the UAE, utilizing Dubai as a launchpad for regional private equity, real estate, and infrastructure ventures.
The meeting was attended by a delegation of senior UAE officials, including His Excellency Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs; His Excellency Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs; His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism; and His Excellency Essa Kazim, Governor of the DIFC.
The engagement reflects the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which aims to position the city among the top four global financial centers by the next decade. As international asset managers increasingly look toward the MEASA region for diversification, the partnership between Dubai’s sovereign infrastructure and global firms like Brookfield remains a critical component of the city’s long-term economic strategy.
Photo credits: Government of Dubai Media Office
Andrew Shelepnytsky
Andrew Shelepnytsky is an Editor of Dubai Voice.
