Dubai Rises as Global Magnet for Wealth and Multinationals
Record inflows of global wealth and corporations cement Dubai’s role as the world’s leading hub for finance, innovation, and family enterprises.
Surge in family offices, global corporations, and high-net-worth individuals cements Dubai’s status as the premier hub for capital, innovation, and expansion.
Dubai is experiencing an unprecedented transformation in 2025, emerging as the world’s leading destination for multinational corporations, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs). This surge reflects not only record-breaking inflows of global wealth but also the emirate’s unique positioning as a gateway for international business and investment.
The Dubai International Chamber reported that 143 new companies joined in the first half of the year alone—31 of them multinational corporations—marking a 138% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Small and medium-sized enterprises also thrived, with 112 firms entering the market, more than doubling last year’s tally.
The momentum extended across Dubai’s free zones and financial centres. The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) welcomed over 1,100 companies in the first six months, bringing total membership to nearly 26,000. Its Crypto Centre has now become a global powerhouse, hosting over 700 firms, including Bitcoin.com and Animoca Brands.
At the same time, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has expanded its roster of financial giants, adding PIMCO, Manulife, Silver Point Capital, Baron Capital, and China International Capital Corporation. The number of regulated entities in DIFC grew by 17% year-on-year, reaching 980, underlining Dubai’s ascent as a hub for global capital and financial innovation.
Family Offices and Global Wealth Migration
A defining feature of Dubai’s rise has been its unprecedented wave of wealth migration. Nearly 200 new family offices relocated to Dubai in the past year, taking the total close to 800. Many of these moved from Switzerland and Europe, drawn by Dubai’s privacy, flexible structures, and advantageous inheritance and ownership laws. Analysts project that assets under management by UAE-based family offices could reach $500 billion by the end of 2025—more than doubling from current levels.
According to Henley & Partners, the UAE attracted nearly 10,000 millionaires and billionaires in 2025, injecting an estimated $63 billion in investable wealth into the country. Dubai captured the majority share, with 7,100 new millionaires expected this year alone, including over 200 centi-millionaires and at least 15 billionaires. Knight Frank reports that Dubai now counts over 72,000 resident HNWIs, a figure forecasted to grow by nearly 50% by 2030.
Luxury real estate has become a focal point of this wealth influx. Seventy percent of wealthy global investors plan to acquire homes in Dubai in 2025, with an average spend of USD 32 million, driving record-breaking property transactions in Palm Jumeirah and Downtown Dubai.
Strengthening the Wealth Management Ecosystem
This migration has spurred growth in Dubai’s wealth management sector. Leading global firms such as Rothschild & Co, St James’s Place, and UBS have expanded operations in DIFC, consolidating Dubai’s position as the world’s top relocation hub for the ultra-wealthy—overtaking London, New York, and Singapore. The emirate also entered seventh place in the Julius Baer Global Wealth and Lifestyle Index, reflecting its rising global prestige.
Empowering Family Enterprises
Family-owned businesses—responsible for around 60% of the UAE’s GDP—are also leveraging Dubai as a launchpad for international expansion. The Dubai Centre for Family Businesses has introduced new advisory services to support governance, succession planning, and access to global capital, offering confidence to intergenerational enterprises aiming for growth beyond the region.
Policy, Infrastructure, and Lifestyle Advantages
Underlying this historic momentum is Dubai’s unique blend of policy reform, strategic geography, and lifestyle appeal. The emirate connects to two-thirds of the world’s population within an eight-hour flight, supported by state-of-the-art airports, ports, and logistics infrastructure.
Reforms such as Golden Visas, retirement residency schemes, 100% foreign ownership in most sectors, and common-law jurisdictions like DIFC and ADGM have created one of the world’s most flexible and attractive business environments. These initiatives, combined with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33—aiming to double the economy to Dh32 trillion by 2033—signal a clear roadmap for sustained expansion and global leadership.
A Global Capital for the Future
From corporate giants and innovative startups to family offices and ultra-wealthy individuals, Dubai’s rise as the premier global hub is reshaping the world’s financial landscape. With its unparalleled connectivity, business-friendly policies, and aspirational lifestyle, the emirate is not just a destination of choice today—it is setting the foundation to be the world’s capital of wealth and enterprise for decades to come.
