The United Arab Emirates is poised to become the world’s premier destination for the ultra-wealthy, with projections indicating a net inflow of 9,800 millionaires in 2025. This unprecedented migration represents more than just numbers – it signals a fundamental shift in global wealth patterns and establishes the UAE as the undisputed leader in attracting high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) seeking stability, opportunity, and lifestyle enhancement.
The Great Wealth Migration
According to the latest Henley & Partners Private Wealth Migration Report, the UAE’s projected influx of nearly 10,000 millionaires significantly outpaces global competitors and reflects a broader trend of strategic wealth relocation. This movement isn’t occurring in isolation – approximately 165,000 millionaires worldwide are expected to relocate next year, with the UAE capturing a substantial portion of this mobile wealth.
The contrast with traditional wealth centers is striking. While the United Kingdom faces a net loss of 16,500 millionaires, the UAE continues its meteoric rise as a wealth destination. This reverse flow from established financial centers like London to emerging hubs demonstrates how geopolitical stability, regulatory frameworks, and lifestyle factors now drive wealth migration decisions.
“Wealth migration has shifted from being an emergency backup to a core planning tool,” explains Dominic Volek, Head of Private Clients at Henley & Partners. “And the UAE has emerged as one of the most effective platforms to execute that strategy.”
Dubai’s Financial Center Dominance
The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has emerged as a cornerstone of this wealth attraction strategy, transforming into a global powerhouse for family wealth management. The numbers tell a compelling story: DIFC now hosts 120 family offices managing an astounding $1.2 trillion in assets. This concentration of ultra-high-net-worth family capital represents one of the largest such clusters globally.
The growth trajectory is equally impressive. Within just one year, DIFC witnessed a 33% increase in family offices, a 51% surge in foundations, and a 50% jump in hedge funds. Currently, 410 asset management firms operate within DIFC, collectively marketing over 10,000 funds to global investors.
This explosive growth reflects more than attractive tax policies – it represents a fundamental shift toward the UAE as a trusted jurisdiction for long-term wealth preservation and family governance structures.
Legal Innovations Drive Appeal
One of the UAE’s most significant competitive advantages lies in its progressive legal reforms, particularly regarding family law and asset protection. The introduction of secular legal structures for marriage, divorce, and inheritance has proven transformative for international families seeking jurisdictional clarity.
“The UAE’s ability to offer secular legal structures for marriage, divorce, and inheritance has been a game-changer,” notes Sunita Singh-Dalal, Partner at Hourani. “It’s helped attract global families seeking stability and long-term asset protection.”
The twin financial hubs of DIFC in Dubai and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) offer investors secure legal frameworks under English common law – a major differentiator in a region historically dominated by civil law systems. This legal infrastructure provides familiar territory for wealth managers and family offices accustomed to common law jurisdictions.
Strategic Economic Positioning
Dr. Bhaskar Dasgupta, Chairman of the Apex Boards for Middle East and India, attributes the UAE’s magnetic appeal to its “strategic location, deep capital pools, English common law system, and world-class infrastructure.” This combination creates an ecosystem where wealth can be efficiently managed, deployed, and protected.
Remarkably, even the UAE’s introduction of corporate tax in 2023 hasn’t dampened investor enthusiasm. Foreign direct investment has continued rising, supported by 140 double taxation agreements and expanding fintech, artificial intelligence, and blockchain initiatives that strengthen the UAE’s global financial footprint.
Major international players have recognized this momentum. Financial giants including BlackRock and Goldman Sachs are significantly ramping up their regional investments, seeking to capitalize on the UAE’s sustained growth trajectory.
Ras Al Khaimah: The Emerging Contender
While Dubai and Abu Dhabi continue dominating investor attention, Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) is rapidly emerging as an attractive alternative destination. The upcoming Wynn Resort project, scheduled to open in 2027 as the region’s first regulated gaming destination, has generated significant investor excitement and elevated RAK’s profile among global wealth managers.
According to Knight Frank research, 46% of global HNWIs now view RAK as an increasingly attractive real estate destination. Among UAE-based wealthy expatriates, this figure jumps to 80%, indicating strong confidence in RAK’s development trajectory.
RAK’s appeal extends beyond entertainment and hospitality. Cost-efficient business zones like RAKICC and RAKEZ, combined with lifestyle-driven tourism expansion, are creating new opportunities for capital deployment beyond traditional financial centers.
Golden Visa Evolution
Central to the UAE’s wealth attraction strategy is its continuously evolving Golden Visa programme, which has become increasingly sophisticated and targeted. In the past nine months alone, five new sponsor-free visa categories have been introduced, ranging from digital content creators and healthcare professionals to luxury yacht owners.
This visa innovation reflects the UAE’s understanding that modern wealth is diverse, encompassing traditional business fortunes alongside new economy entrepreneurs, creative professionals, and lifestyle-oriented investors.
Long-Term Vision and Social Investment
The UAE’s approach to wealth attraction extends beyond immediate economic benefits. The Dubai Social Agenda 33, backed by Dh208 billion in funding, demonstrates long-term commitment to creating sustainable communities that appeal to multigenerational wealth families.
This agenda prioritizes family development, generational prosperity, and social cohesion – factors increasingly important to HNWIs evaluating relocation decisions. By investing in social infrastructure and community development, the UAE is positioning itself not just as a tax-efficient jurisdiction, but as a place where wealthy families can build lasting legacies.
Global Wealth Realignment
The UAE’s success in attracting millionaire migration represents more than regional competition – it reflects a fundamental realignment of global wealth patterns. As St. James’s Place Middle East observes, “The UAE’s popularity is being fuelled by outbound movements from the UK, and shifting wealth preferences in Asia.”
This migration encompasses capitals from London, Mumbai, Moscow, and Beijing, indicating the UAE’s appeal transcends any single geographic region or geopolitical situation.
Looking ahead, the UAE’s combination of legal certainty, investor-friendly regulation, strategic reforms, and future-focused planning positions it not merely as a wealth destination, but as a platform for shaping how the world’s wealthy plan their futures. In 2025, that future increasingly points toward the Emirates.
At Cryptoverse Legal Consultancy, we support high-net-worth individuals and family offices relocating to the UAE with expert legal guidance on asset protection, residency, and blockchain-aligned wealth structures ensuring your legacy is secure in the region’s most trusted jurisdictions
1. Why are millionaires relocating to the UAE in 2025?
High-net-worth individuals are relocating to the UAE for its tax-friendly policies, secure legal frameworks under English common law (via DIFC and ADGM), lifestyle benefits, and evolving residency programs like the Golden Visa.
2. What is the role of DIFC in wealth migration to Dubai?
The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) offers a trusted legal and financial ecosystem for family offices, asset managers, and HNWIs seeking to structure and preserve wealth under familiar English common law standards.
3. Can foreign investors set up family offices in the UAE?
Yes, foreign investors can establish family offices in DIFC or ADGM to manage generational wealth, estate planning, and global investments under robust regulatory and legal protections.