Arif Amiri, said: “DIFC continues to advance its position as the region’s leading global financial center, business and innovation hub, driving not only the future of finance but increasingly the future economy. By supporting partners such as CBD to introduce creative initiatives similar to their Digital Lab, we are also helping Dubai become a global hub for innovation and technology.”

“Our partnership with Start-up Nation Central will enable us to foster a culture of collaboration among entrepreneurs and innovators in both nations and further build a vibrant ecosystem to advance the FinTech sector,”says Arif Amiri.

“Awareness and adoption of Blockchain is growing rapidly. DIFC Blockchain Week is a unique opportunity to meet the best minds in the sector and discuss ways to strengthen and expand Blockchain use cases,” says Arif.

DIFC Innovation Hub is home to start-ups such as YAP, Sarwa, Baraka, StashAway, Ebury, Adyen and Mamo as well as Thunderbird School of Global Management, which is part of Arizona State University and recognised as the most innovative college in the US for the sixth year running and has chosen to set up its Global Innovation Centre in DIFC.

The Amazon Fintech Lab has been designed with the specific intention of supporting innovation in fintech through networking and collaborating with DIFC’s community of SMEs, financial institutions and start-ups throughout an ongoing program of events during which different stakeholders and teams will be hosted in a variety of forums to discuss the different payment pain-points .