Designed to be an on-shore alternative with offshore features, the Dubai International Financial Centre or DIFC is a free trade zone in the heart of Dubai's new business district. Business takes centre stage in the booming economy of Dubai, and the introduction of Dubai freehold property has led to such ambitious projects creating a better environment for firms.

With other freehold projects including Business Bay, Downtown Dubai and Jumeirah Lake Towers as part of a growing crop of commercial property, DIFC is the primary location for serious firms and the multinational elite. The DIFC has high standard, world-class regulations and offers a degree of transparency which appeals to investors and firms. It also has the added feature of being a tax-free environment in Asia's newest major business centre and the Middle East's biggest business hub, Dubai. With a central location in the heart of Dubai, DIFC offers easy access to amenities and services, while providing a vast range of facilities for the companies that reside here.

DIFC is already home to a number of the world's finest multinational companies, but with ongoing development and expansion to include more commercial space and better facilities, it will soon be home to even more. There are many perks to owning office space within DIFC besides its key location that make this commercial district worth the money. Firms are better able to manage their staff and hire new employees at the DIFC, as it deals with visas and labour matters directly, to offer a better administrative service for firms. There is also the fact that 100 per cent foreign ownership is possible, and that there is no taxation on income or profits generated by firms, which is good encouragement for the multitude of firms from overseas and local roots to base their worldwide operations here.

The current DIFC complex features state of the art technology on all scales, including 24-hour security, operational support, strict enforcement of anti money laundering laws and high standards of finishing on all commercial office space. Facilities such as restaurants, cafes and a gym create the best possible environment for business during office hours and beyond.

The future of the DIFC is set to continue with the addition of new freehold towers, which include Limestone House, Park Towers and Sky Gardens. With easy access to the adjacent Business Bay and Burj Dubai developments, the DIFC really is a financial centre with a difference