Standard & Poor's opens office in the DIFC

Notes and media contacts

Media contacts:

Standard and Poors
Matthew McAdam, Communications
Tel: +44 20-7176-3541

DIFC
Amira Abdulla
PR Manager
Dubai International Financial Centre
Tel: +971 4 362 2433

Shaima Al Zarouni
Assistant PR Manager
Dubai International Financial Centre
Tel: +971 4 362 2432

About Standard & Poor's in the Gulf Cooperation Council
Standard & Poor's is the leading provider of financial market intelligence to customers in the Gulf's credit risk management, wealth management, and data and information markets. Since entering the region in the early 1990's, Standard & Poor's has become the largest provider of credit ratings in the G.C.C, rating close to 100 issuers. In equity markets, Shariah-compliant versions of Standard & Poor's global and regional equity market indices - S&P 500, S&P Europe 350, S&P Japan 500 and S&P/IFCI GCC - have created new opportunities for Islamic investors to benchmark their international investments and for asset managers to create new investment products serving the Islamic community.

About the DIFC:
The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is an onshore hub for global finance. It bridges the time gap between the financial centres of Hong Kong and London and services a region with the largest untapped emerging market for financial services. In just three years, over 500 firms have registered at the DIFC. They operate in an open environment complemented with world-class regulations and standards. The DIFC offers its member institutions incentives such as 100% foreign ownership, zero tax on income and profits and no restrictions on foreign exchange. In addition their business benefits from modern infrastructure, operational support and business continuity facilities of uncompromisingly high standards.