The UAE's Rising Elite and Influence

The UAE's Rising Elite: Billionaires, Influence, and Generational Shifts

The United Arab Emirates' economic success story has reached another milestone. According to the latest data, the wealth of billionaires living in the country grew by 110 billion dirhams, or more than 30 billion dollars, in 2025, reaching 619 billion dirhams. This represents a 21.6 percent increase in a single year. According to the Billionaire Ambitions Report by UBS, the UAE has now become one of the most attractive destinations for the super-rich, not only in the Middle East and Africa but worldwide.

The region's wealthiest reside in the UAE

The numbers speak for themselves. While Saudi Arabia's billionaires' wealth rose to 81 billion dollars, in Israel 108 billion, in Nigeria 37.3 billion, in South Africa 36 billion, in Egypt 17.2 billion, and in Lebanon, only 6.2 billion dollars are concentrated in the hands of the wealthiest. In contrast, the total wealth of the UAE's billionaires exceeded 168 billion dollars in 2025, which is outstanding in the region.

The growth is not only evident in the amount of wealth but also in the number of arrivals. According to the 2025 Private Wealth Migration Report, around 9,800 new millionaires moved to the country in that year alone, bringing with them approximately 63 billion dollars in capital.

Why does the UAE attract the wealthy?

The answer lies in several factors. The country's economic growth is based on stable and forward-thinking macroeconomic measures. Additionally, the tax policy is extremely attractive: many wealthy individuals – particularly from Europe – choose the Emirates due to rising local taxes and bureaucracy. The regulatory environment is both business-friendly and predictable, making it easier to manage and plan the inheritance of large fortunes.

The case of a British billionaire who recently moved to the United Arab Emirates also well illustrates how migration trends towards the country become visible at the individual decision-making level. The tangible motivation for the wealthy elite lies in the differences between taxes and the business-friendly environment.

New challenges: generational shifts and inheritance

According to UBS, over the next 15 years, more than 560 billion dirhams of wealth will change hands through inheritance in the Middle East and Africa. The scale of wealth transfer in the UAE will be the second largest, totaling approximately 117 billion dirhams, directly after Israel. This phenomenon predicts significant transformations not only financially but also socially and within families.

The question of inheritance is not simply about who receives what. The focus is increasingly on how the next generations can responsibly manage the wealth that comes to them. Wealth management advisors now not only help in assembling portfolios but also in gradually involving younger family members in decision-making.

The new face of the billionaire community

New reports indicate that the global billionaire community is becoming increasingly mobile, diverse, and long-term oriented. The UAE is at the forefront of this. The super-rich living here manage their wealth consciously and develop future-oriented strategies to preserve, grow, and achieve family legacy and philanthropic goals.

In addition to the business mindset, social responsibility is gaining more and more importance. The next generations not only want to be heirs but active shapers of the future of family businesses and foundations.

Growing demand for professional wealth management

Increasingly complex financial situations and the necessity of intergenerational transfer make using professional wealth management services essential. In the UAE, numerous international financial institutions – including Swiss, American, and British banks – have opened regional centers to serve the needs of local and expatriated billionaires.

The financial services sector quickly responded to the needs: unique investment advisories, the creation of inheritance structures, and the establishment of family offices are increasingly basic expectations from wealthy clients.

Summary

According to the 2025 data, the United Arab Emirates continues to strengthen its position on the world's elite financial map. Not only have the billionaires living here become richer, but they also manage their wealth more consciously. The wealth transfer occurring in the region and the influx of new millionaires clearly indicate that the UAE's appeal is not merely found in tax benefits.

The key to the future lies in the new generations and their preparation – as wealth is not just a value to be preserved, but a tool for building the future. The UAE intends to play a significant role in this global game and has the attributes to do so.

(Source: Based on a report by Henley & Partners.)