The 14-storey property, sheathed in French limestone, is connected via walkway to the busy Dubai International Financial Centre.

BBC: Business trip: Dubai

Perhaps too good of a deal for Nasdaq, which may have a rival in the Dubai International Financial Centre, owner of the Dubai stock exchange.

FORBES: Dubai Talk Heats Up OMX Shares

The company said it had been granted a licence by the Dubai Financial Services Authority to establish a branch at the Dubai International Financial Centre.

BBC: Standard Life opens first office in Middle East

She spent several years in strategic consulting and worked with the Dubai International Financial Centre before joining the family business, Depa, for which she then led the IPO.

FORBES: Dubai: The Sanctuary

In May the Dubai International Financial Centre issued Shariah Capital a license to operate its platform, and a hedge fund firm in Boston gave the system a dry run.

FORBES: Hedging

Since retiring from the banking giant in 2005, Eldon has served as the chairman of the Dubai International Financial Centre Authority, an independent director of Noble Group and senior advisor to PricewaterhouseCoopers.

FORBES: Arabia-Asia: Seasoned Banker Reflects On Rekindled Trade Routes

Goldman Sachs has been establishing a presence in Dubai since 2006, when it received a license from the Dubai Financial Services Authority to operate in the Dubai International Centre.

FORBES: Dubai Exits Helmsley Building

Given how much Dubai has spent polishing its image as an international financial centre, it would be suicidal for the emirate to do the same, say analysts.

ECONOMIST: Dubai's debt mountain