The Dubai Financial Services Authority has published its Artificial Intelligence survey 2025, showing rapid uptake of Artificial Intelligence across the Dubai International Financial Centre. The survey found 52% of Authorised Firms now use Artificial Intelligence, up from 33% in 2024, and reported that adoption of generative Artificial Intelligence increased by 166% over the last 12 months. The DFSA highlights that artificial intelligence is becoming a core operational component for many firms, with a clear shift toward broader integration.
Fieldwork for the survey was conducted in June 2025 and captured responses from 661 Authorised Firms, representing an 88% participation rate. Participants operate across banking, capital markets, wealth and asset management, and fintech. The report shows 60% of firms expect to increase their use of Artificial Intelligence in the next 12 months, and 75% over the next three years. Governance is developing but uneven: while 60% of firms have some form of governance structure for Artificial Intelligence, 21% lack clear accountability or oversight even where Artificial Intelligence is critical to operations.
The DFSA stresses that rapid innovation must be supported by effective governance, ethical data practices, and sound risk management. Firms reported a cautious deployment approach, often focusing on internal functions and processes rather than customer-facing applications. Many firms called for greater regulatory clarity and harmonisation of supervisory expectations across the UAE financial sector. Justin Baldacchino, managing director, supervision, at the DFSA, said the DIFC’s financial services ecosystem is embracing Artificial Intelligence at pace and that the authority’s priority is to balance innovation with integrity by ensuring accountability and oversight as governance frameworks evolve.
The DFSA said it will continue a risk-based regulatory approach that seeks to be proportionate and responsive to emerging risks while engaging with industry and other regulators to support responsible Artificial Intelligence adoption that protects customers and market confidence. The full DFSA Artificial Intelligence survey 2025 report is available from the authority for further detail.
