Casablanca has reaffirmed its status as Africa’s leading financial center in the 39th edition of the Global Financial Centers Index (GFCI 39), published by Z/Yen and the China Development Institute. The Moroccan economic capital climbed seven places to rank 49th out of 120 financial centers worldwide, posting a score of 700 points in an environment where most global centers recorded declining scores.
The latest edition saw an average score decrease of 1.82% across all assessed centers, making Casablanca’s seven-place gain all the more notable. The city leads the African continent ahead of Johannesburg (80th), Mauritius (50th), Cape Town (96th), Kigali (72nd), Nairobi (114th) and Lagos (118th). At the regional level within the Middle East and Africa zone, Casablanca ranks fourth behind Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha, the latter recording the strongest progression in the region.
One of the standout highlights of this edition is Casablanca’s performance in financial technology. Among 116 evaluated fintech hubs, the city advanced an impressive 20 places to reach 50th position globally — one of the most significant leaps recorded in the entire index, reflecting the growing maturity and ambition of Morocco’s digital finance ecosystem.
The GFCI methodology draws on 147 evaluation factors, incorporating data from the World Bank, the OECD, and major international institutions. The index is widely used by multinationals as a benchmark when deciding where to establish new subsidiaries or regional headquarters. This positions Casablanca Finance City as an increasingly relevant gateway for companies seeking exposure to African markets from a well-regulated, internationally connected platform.
The broader index saw notable shifts at the top, with Dubai and Tokyo breaking into the global top 10, displacing Chicago and Los Angeles, while Amsterdam entered the top 20. For Morocco, this latest ranking reinforces the strategic positioning of Casablanca Finance City as the preeminent financial hub bridging Africa, Europe, and the Middle East — a role that continues to gain recognition on the world stage.