Every hour, a new affluent individual establishes residence in the United Arab Emirates, according to a recently published report.
The UAE's Rise as a Global Wealth Hub
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is poised to welcome the highest number of millionaires in 2025, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi emerging as the new epicenters of global finance and innovation. This shift is primarily driven by the UAE's tax-free environment, geopolitical neutrality, attractive visa policies, luxury lifestyle, and stable investment opportunities.
The UAE's lack of personal income, inheritance, and wealth taxes sets it apart from traditional financial hubs like London, which is experiencing a significant millionaire outflow due to rising taxes and political uncertainty. The country's flexible "Golden Visa" and other residence-by-investment initiatives offer long-term security and ease of stay for high-net-worth individuals.
Prime property in the UAE remains relatively affordable compared to comparable global cities, providing stable and attractive investment opportunities. The country's geopolitical stability and neutrality appeal to global investors and wealthy individuals seeking safety and connectivity. The UAE's luxury lifestyle, top-tier infrastructure, and cosmopolitan environment further enhance its attractiveness.
London, in particular, lost over 11,000 millionaires in 2024, underscoring the shift as many wealthy British individuals seek tax efficiency and political stability overseas, with the UAE as a prime destination. Estimates indicate that about 7,100 to 10,000 millionaires are expected to migrate into the UAE in 2025, making it the largest global net recipient of millionaire migrants, outpacing other affluent cities like New York and Singapore.
The UK's millionaire population is experiencing its largest outflow, with around 16,500 millionaires expected to leave in 2025, many relocating to the UAE due to these combined incentives. Multinationals like BlueCrest Capital are also planning to move their operations from London to Dubai, citing unlimited opportunity as the reason.
Notable figures like John Fredriksen, a Norwegian shipping magnate, have already relocated from the United Kingdom to the UAE. The Henley Private Wealth Migration Report 2025 predicts a record outflow of 16,500 millionaires from the United Kingdom in 2025, with an estimated $63 billion in private wealth projected to shift into the UAE in 2025.
In conclusion, the UAE's rise as a premier wealth center in 2025 is driven by a combination of tax efficiency, residency schemes, lifestyle benefits, and geopolitical advantages, making it especially attractive to wealthy British expatriates and other global millionaires. On average, nearly one millionaire is expected to relocate to the UAE every hour in 2025. The UAE is attracting millionaires from India, Nigeria, South Africa, Russia, and the UK.
- The United Arab Emirates is anticipated to welcome the highest number of millionaires in 2025, primarily due to its tax-free environment, geopolitical neutrality, and attractive visa policies.
- Dubai and Abu Dhabi are emerging as new epicenters of global finance and innovation, offering stable investment opportunities and a luxury lifestyle.
- London, however, is losing millions of its millionaires due to rising taxes, political uncertainty, and the appeal of the UAE's tax efficiency and stable environment.
- The UK's largest outflow of millionaires is expected in 2025, with about 16,500 millionaires expected to leave, many choosing the UAE as their new home.
- Multinationals like BlueCrest Capital are planning to move their operations from London to Dubai, citing unlimited opportunity as the reason.
- Notable figures, such as John Fredriksen, a Norwegian shipping magnate, have already relocated from the UK to the UAE, with the Henley Private Wealth Migration Report predicting a record outflow of 16,500 millionaires from the UK in 2025, with an estimated $63 billion in private wealth projected to shift into the UAE.
