EnterpriseAM · 21 Sep, 00:00 · Finance briefing

Riyadh, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi gain ground in Global Financial Centers Index despite regional conflict

The latest Global Financial Centers Index reveals that Riyadh, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi are strengthening their positions as premier financial hubs.

What it means for you ↓ Courses for this story

28%average pay gap between certified and uncertified finance staff

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83%of finance leaders rank upskilling a top-3 priority

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

The latest Global Financial Centers Index reveals that Riyadh, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi are strengthening their positions as premier financial hubs. This growth occurs despite ongoing regional geopolitical tensions, highlighting the resilience and strategic importance of the Gulf Cooperation Council economies. The data suggests a continued shift in global capital flows towards these markets, driven by robust regulatory frameworks and diversification efforts away from traditional Western centers. For professionals, this indicates a stable and expanding landscape for financial services, investment, and related sectors in the Middle East, offering new opportunities for career advancement and regional mobility in an increasingly complex global economic environment.

Employer demand for Finance and Accounting skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

This shift signals a critical pivot in global finance, demanding that you adapt your skill set to thrive in emerging markets. Professionals in banking, investment, and regulatory compliance should prioritise expertise in Islamic finance, cross-border risk management, and regional market dynamics. You must understand the specific regulatory landscapes of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain to navigate this growth effectively. Smart professionals will now seek roles involving market entry strategies or regional expansion projects. Focus on developing cultural intelligence and language skills relevant to the Gulf region. Upskill in financial modelling and geopolitical risk assessment to advise clients on navigating instability. By positioning yourself as an expert in these high-growth hubs, you become indispensable to firms seeking to capitalise on this sustained regional momentum.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Finance and Accounting, Risk Management Strategies, Financial Modeling and Compliance And Governance — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

Enrol in these
to benefit.

These programmes position you for exactly this shift — online, self-paced, and finishing with a verifiable certificate you can share the day you pass.