UAE Billionaires Lead MENA Wealth Surge, Adding Dh110 Billion in 2025
UAE Emerges as MENA’s Wealth Powerhouse Amid Billionaire Growth and Next-Generation Inheritance Boom
Entrepreneurial Drive and Generational Wealth Transfers Propel the Emirates to the Forefront of Regional and Global Prosperity
The United Arab Emirates has once again solidified its position as the wealthiest hub in the Middle East and North Africa, with billionaires in the country seeing their collective fortunes surge by Dh110 billion ($30 billion) in 2025, according to the latest reports. This represents a 21.6% increase, bringing total billionaire wealth in the UAE to over Dh600 billion ($168.7 billion).
The Billionaire Ambitions Report by Swiss bank UBS highlighted that the UAE’s billionaires are not only the richest in the region but also outpace peers in Israel ($108.1 billion), Saudi Arabia ($81 billion), Nigeria ($37.3 billion), South Africa ($36 billion), Egypt ($17.2 billion), and Lebanon ($6.2 billion). The UAE saw the addition of two new billionaires this year, with one leaving, bringing the total number of billionaires to 19.
This remarkable growth is underpinned by strong macroeconomic performance, business-friendly policies, and an influx of international entrepreneurs. A notable example is British steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, who relocated to the UAE, attracted by lower taxes and a conducive business environment.
The 2025 Private Wealth Migration Report from Henley & Partners also revealed that the UAE is expected to attract approximately 9,800 millionaires, accompanied by $63 billion in associated capital, reinforcing the Emirates’ appeal as a global wealth destination.
Generational Wealth Transfer
Beyond new wealth creation, intergenerational transfers are playing a pivotal role in the region’s economic landscape. UBS estimates that heirs in the UAE will inherit assets worth $31.9 billion (Dh117 billion) over the next 15 years, second only to Israel. Across the Middle East and Africa, heirs are projected to inherit at least $152.7 billion (Dh560.4 billion), with the UAE and Saudi Arabia leading the way in this historic wealth transition.
Niels Zilkens, head of wealth management Middle East at UBS GWM, noted, “The robust increase in UAE billionaires’ wealth reflects both dynamic entrepreneurship and the intensifying transfer of wealth to the next generation. These trends underscore the region’s rising influence in global wealth and the importance of forward-looking strategies to preserve and grow family legacies across generations.”
Benjamin Cavalli, co-head EMEA OneUBS, added, “As families become more international and the great wealth transfer accelerates, the focus is shifting from simply preserving wealth to empowering the next generation to succeed independently and responsibly. This is influencing not only succession planning but also philanthropic priorities and long-term investment decisions.”
The combination of entrepreneurial drive, forward-looking wealth management, and intergenerational transfers has positioned the UAE as a magnet for billionaires and high-net-worth individuals, highlighting its role as a dynamic financial powerhouse in the region and the world.
