It's hard to imagine, but as late as 2003, there was no world-class financial center located within the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, a vast expanse whose combined GDP is valued at US$7.17 trillion, according to the IMF. In 2004, that situation changed with the launch of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). Located in Dubai, in the UAE, DIFC gave financial firms a regional base from which to serve their clients. They no longer had to fly in from London, Singapore or beyond. This is a big benefit, especially in the MEASA region, where face-to-face meetings are particularly important.
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