UAE Set to Attract 9,800 Millionaires in 2025, Topping Global High-Net-Worth Migration
A wave of wealth migration is on the horizon: 165,000 millionaires are expected to relocate globally next year, with the UK alone facing a net loss of 16,500 millionaires. Meanwhile, the UAE stands poised to gain nearly 10,000 millionaires, drawing affluent individuals from major global capitals like London, Mumbai, Moscow, and Beijing.
According to the latest Henley & Partners Private Wealth Migration Report, the UAE is set to become the world’s top destination for high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) in 2025, with a net inflow of 9,800 millionaires. This projected growth solidifies the UAE’s rising status as a premier destination for private wealth, driven by its attractive lifestyle, business-friendly policies, and significant legal reforms.
Why the World’s Wealthy Are Heading to the UAE
Conversations within wealth advisory firms, such as St. James’s Place Middle East, reflect the findings of the report. The firm highlights how the UAE’s increasing popularity is fueled by outbound wealth movements from the UK and shifting wealth preferences in Asia.
A major factor in this momentum is the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), which has become a hotspot for ultra-wealthy families. With 120 family offices managing a staggering $1.2 trillion in assets, DIFC has seen a 33% increase in family offices, a 51% rise in foundations, and a 50% jump in hedge funds over the past year. In total, 410 asset management firms now operate in DIFC, managing over 10,000 funds globally.
Sunita Singh-Dalal, Partner at Hourani, notes, “The UAE’s ability to offer secular legal structures for marriage, divorce, and inheritance has been a game-changer,” adding that this stability has helped attract global families seeking long-term asset protection.
The UAE’s Growing Asset Management Hub
Dr. Bhaskar Dasgupta, economist and Chairman of the Apex Boards for Middle East and India, attributes the UAE’s growth to its strategic location, abundant capital pools, English common law system, and world-class infrastructure. The dual hubs of DIFC in Dubai and the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) offer investors secure legal frameworks under common law, setting the UAE apart from its regional competitors.
Despite the introduction of a corporate tax in 2023, the UAE has seen a rise in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The country now boasts 140 double taxation agreements and continues to expand its global financial presence, driven by sectors like fintech, AI, and blockchain. Major players like BlackRock and Goldman Sachs are ramping up investments, keen to capitalize on the UAE’s growing influence in the global economy.
Ras Al Khaimah: The Rising Star
While Dubai and Abu Dhabi remain the dominant players in attracting wealth, Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) is emerging as a rising star. The launch of the Wynn Resort project in 2027, which will feature the region’s first regulated gaming destination, has sparked investor interest. According to Knight Frank, 46% of global HNWIs now view RAK as a more attractive real estate destination, a number that rises to 80% among UAE-based wealthy expats.
With cost-effective business zones like RAKICC and RAKEZ, as well as a growing focus on lifestyle-driven tourism, RAK is carving out a niche for capital inflows beyond the traditional wealth hubs of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Visas, Reforms, and the Future of Wealth in the UAE
At the core of the UAE’s success in attracting wealth is its ever-expanding Golden Visa program. In the past nine months alone, five new sponsor-free visa categories have been introduced, targeting sectors from digital content creators to healthcare professionals and luxury yacht owners.
The UAE’s Dubai Social Agenda 33, backed by a Dh208 billion investment, takes a long-term approach to family development, generational prosperity, and social cohesion. This forward-thinking strategy ensures the continued appeal of the UAE as a hub for wealth and investment.
As Dominic Volek, Head of Private Clients at Henley & Partners, puts it: “Wealth migration has shifted from being an emergency backup to a core planning tool. The UAE has emerged as one of the most effective platforms to execute that strategy.”
Bottom Line
With its blend of legal certainty, investor-friendly regulation, strategic reforms, and future-focused planning, the UAE is not only attracting global wealth — it’s reshaping how the world’s rich plan for their futures. In 2025, that future increasingly points to the Emirates.