The move means that Hoxton Wealth can operate in the DIFC.

Dubai-headquartered Hoxton Wealth, an international wealth manager, has achieved regulatory approval from the Dubai Financial Services Authority.

The move gives Hoxton freedom to operate in the Dubai International Finance Centre, it said in a statement yesterday.

“Hoxton has ambitious growth plans in the region and DIFC provides the perfect launchpad for this,” Chris Ball, Hoxton Wealth CEO, said. The firm, which Ball founded in 2018, has 300 staff worldwide focusing on expatriates.
 

The team in the DIFC

From left to right: Alan Turner; Lesley Lanham; Charlie Warren; Jinky Rodriguez; Chris Ball; Natasha Chamaa; Jacob Hall, and Christine Albaniel.

Hoxton has been busy. For example, in February, it opened its first office in Mexico City with a team of four. In the same month, it appointed a former senior US regulator Justin Burse as its new US compliance chief. Hoxton rebranded under the Hoxton Wealth name last year.

Several firms have set up shop recently in Dubai and neighbouring Abu Dhabi, exploiting the rising level of demand for wealth management, for example inter-generational wealth and business transfer advisory work. Hamilton Lane, a private markets investment management firm, opened its newest office in the Middle East in February 2025. In November 2024, Rothschild & Co opened a new office in Dubai.

In February 2025, DIFC said the combined revenues for its companies in 2024 had reached AED1.78 billion ($484 million). The DIFC includes 27 of the world's 29 global systemically important banks, Hoxton said.