Dubai and Abu Dhabi continue to attract the world’s wealthiest individuals, even as geopolitical tensions simmer across the Middle East. From India, the UK, the US, Africa, and Brazil, high-net-worth families are setting up family offices in the UAE, drawn by zero income and inheritance taxes, a strategic East-West location, and a fast-evolving financial ecosystem.
Despite recent missile exchanges between Israel and Iran, the UAE’s reputation as a neutral, stable hub remains intact. “We’ve seen no slowdown at all because of regional conflict,” says Arjun Mittal, CIO of Abbey Road Investment Group. “If anything, it reinforces the UAE’s position as a neutral, strategic hub”.
The influx of wealth is driving record-breaking growth in Dubai’s luxury property market, with sales of homes priced above $10 million reaching $2.6 billion in Q2 2025. Abu Dhabi’s financial centre welcomed 267 new entities last month, including family offices and investment firms, with a strong pipeline ahead.
Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, who set up his family office in Abu Dhabi in 2023, notes, “As other places deteriorate, the UAE is improving quickly — the contrasts are becoming more obvious”.
The UAE is expected to attract 9,800 new millionaires in 2025, more than any other country, according to Henley & Partners. Banks like Barclays, Deutsche Bank, and Bank of Singapore are expanding their private banking presence, while hedge funds and wealth advisory firms report rising demand from Chinese, European, and UK clients.
While regional risks persist, experts say wealthy families are hedging by diversifying assets globally, with the UAE forming just one part of their global optionality. “Risk tolerance is a relative measure,” says Robert Mogielnicki, senior scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute.
With its blend of lifestyle, financial incentives, and geopolitical neutrality, the UAE is fast becoming a magnet for global wealth, even amid regional uncertainty.
