Dubai International Financial Centre’s Innovation Hub has teamed up with trading platform Capital.com to introduce CapitalHer, a new programme focused on improving women’s financial confidence across the Gulf. The initiative is aimed at GCC national women and is designed to give participants practical exposure to financial markets in a structured and supportive setting. Organisers say the programme responds to a need for broader inclusion and stronger education pathways in regional investing and trading.
Programme Overview
CapitalHer will run for six weeks starting in March 2026 and is expected to combine financial education with applied learning, mentoring and peer engagement. The programme will accept between 25 and 30 participants, with selection based on motivation and long-term potential rather than prior market experience alone. Applications are open until March 30, while recruitment is being carried out through the DIFC Innovation Hub’s channels and partner networks.
How It Works
According to the announcement, the programme has been structured to balance foundational knowledge with direct practice so participants can build both understanding and confidence. Workshops and sessions will be supported by regional partners, mentors and subject matter experts, allowing the cohort to test ideas, ask questions and develop practical skills in a guided environment. The programme is set to conclude at the end of April with a Demo Day during the Dubai FinTech Summit, part of Dubai Future Finance Week 2026.
Closing the Participation Gap
The launch reflects a broader push to address uneven participation in financial markets, particularly in trading and investing where women have often been underrepresented. Capital.com said recent research into the MENA retail trading market points to a young, educated and increasingly active investor base, while also indicating a need for better educational access and greater diversity among market participants. CapitalHer has been positioned as a targeted response to those findings by focusing specifically on women’s financial capability and responsible market engagement.
Executive Views
Mohammed AlBlooshi, Chief Executive Officer of the DIFC Innovation Hub, said the programme aligns with the hub’s role in bringing together talent, innovation and opportunity within Dubai’s financial ecosystem. He said CapitalHer is intended to help women across the GCC build practical capability while gaining exposure to one of the region’s most active centres for fintech and entrepreneurship. Tarik Chebib, CEO of Capital.com MENA, added that the initiative reflects the company’s emphasis on education, responsible participation and access to mentors, tools and a community where women can learn in a safe environment.
DIFC and Capital.com Context
The initiative also strengthens DIFC’s wider talent development agenda as the centre continues expanding its role in financial innovation, skills building and future-focused economic growth. DIFC said more than 10,000 learners completed programmes at the DIFC Academy in 2025, taking the total number of participants since inception to more than 51,000. The financial centre, which hosts thousands of firms and professionals across banking, wealth management, insurance, fintech and innovation, has increasingly positioned education and ecosystem development as core parts of its long-term strategy.
Market Positioning
For Capital.com, the collaboration supports its identity as a regulated, technology-led financial company that promotes informed decision-making and risk awareness. The company, founded in 2016, operates across several international jurisdictions and says its platform is designed to support measured participation rather than impulsive trading behaviour. By linking its brand to a women-focused education initiative in the Gulf, the company is also reinforcing its regional presence through a programme with a clear social and market development angle.
CapitalHer enters the market as more than a standalone training scheme, combining financial literacy, mentorship and live ecosystem exposure in a format that mirrors an accelerator programme. Its final presentation at a major regional fintech event gives the initiative added visibility and positions participants within a wider conversation about inclusion and financial capability in the GCC. If execution matches intent, the programme could become a notable example of how regional institutions and private sector firms collaborate to widen access to financial knowledge and participation.