Dubai and the Global Wealth Shift
- 28.02.2026
- Posted by: Uwe Hohmann
- Categories: Dubai, Middle East
The UAE attracted approximately 9,800 new millionaires in 2025. The majority chose Dubai, making it the leading destination worldwide for wealthy individuals relocating their lives and capital. A recent report published by the DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre) reinforces what has become increasingly visible on the ground: Dubai is attracting significant private money, and the momentum continues to build.
More private wealth entering the city brings with it greater demand for professional services, higher client expectations, and a regulatory environment that continues to develop accordingly.
What Is Drawing Wealthy Individuals to Dubai
Tax efficiency plays a role, particularly as countries in Europe and North America introduce stricter laws and expanded reporting obligations. However, reducing it to a tax story does not reflect the full picture.
Dubai offers a combination that is difficult to replicate elsewhere: political stability, a reliable legal framework, strong infrastructure, and direct access to fast-growing markets across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. For families managing capital across borders, the predictability of the regulatory environment matters just as much as the financial returns.
The DIFC alone now hosts more than 1,289 family-related entities, the largest concentration of its kind in the UAE. Behind that figure is a well-developed network of private banking, asset management, legal, and compliance services that support the management of wealth across generations.
A Generational Shift Is Changing Expectations
An estimated USD 124 trillion in wealth is expected to transfer between generations by 2048. This represents one of the largest capital movements in recorded history, and it is already influencing what clients expect from their advisors and service providers.
Younger wealth holders tend to approach investing differently. They show a stronger preference for private markets, technology-driven strategies and investments that align with their values around sustainability and social impact. Family offices are raising the bar in how they operate and expecting the same standard from every professional they engage, whether that is a fund manager, a legal advisor or an accountant.
Technical expertise remains the foundation, but it is no longer sufficient on its own. Clients increasingly expect their advisors to understand succession planning, family governance and cross-border regulatory considerations. Getting the structure right from the outset avoids complications and unnecessary costs later on.
Growing Demand for Professional Services
The expansion of private wealth in Dubai carries practical implications. Family offices and HNWI (High-Net-Worth Individual) structures require accounting support, corporate governance, compliance frameworks, and tax advisory services. The client base in this segment is growing steadily, both for firms that serve it directly and for those operating within the broader professional services chain.
The regulatory framework is evolving in parallel. The UAE has designated 2026 as the Year of Family, signalling a deliberate policy direction. Further development of rules and structures supporting family wealth vehicles, succession planning and related corporate setups is to be expected. Businesses operating in these areas need to stay informed as the framework takes shape.
More broadly, a city that consistently attracts international capital tends to offer a more stable and resilient business environment. That is a benefit that extends well beyond the financial sector.
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While the scale of wealth flowing into Dubai is new, the principles behind building a successful business are not. Selecting the right corporate structure, maintaining solid accounting practices, meeting CIT (Corporate Income Tax) obligations, and upholding proper governance remain the foundation.
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