DIFC Zabeel, named after the Dubai district Za'abeel, will become the largest financial free trade zone in the Middle East, swelling the total number of resident companies to 42,000 and the workforce to 125,000 people. As of early 2026, approximately 48,000 employees work across the dozens of buildings and skyscrapers of the DIFC.

The new DIFC Zabeel district will be specially equipped for companies and startups in the fields of cryptocurrencies, AI, and robotics. An AI academy will prepare both young finance professionals and experienced finance-related staff for future technologies.

As in the entire DIFC district, which is located near the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, British common law will also apply in the expanded district — unlike the rest of the United Arab Emirates, where a blend of Islamic law (Sharia) and French-Egyptian civil law is in effect.