UAE Tops Global List as Wealth Haven Amid Surge in Millionaire Migration
Friday, 27 June 2025
The UAE is set to welcome a record 9,800 migrating millionaires in 2025, cementing its status as the world’s leading wealth haven. Fueled by golden visa schemes, tax-free living, and a high standard of living, the country has attracted affluent individuals from the UK, India, Russia, and Southeast Asia, surpassing the US in net wealth inflows, according to the 2025 Wealth Migration Report by Henley & Partners and New World Wealth.
Key Highlights:
- Record Influx of Millionaires into UAE: The UAE is projected to attract 9,800 millionaires in 2025, with wealth inflows totaling $63 billion, ranking #1 globally.
- Golden Visas Fuel Growth: Demand from high-net-worth individuals in the UK, India, Russia, Southeast Asia, and Africa is driven by golden visa programs, regulatory improvements, and zero personal income tax.
- Global Wealth Migration Trends: An estimated 142,000 millionaires are expected to migrate globally this year, with the US (7,500 millionaires) and Italy, Switzerland, and Saudi Arabia also ranking high.
- UK Wealth Exodus – ‘Wexit’: The UK tops millionaire outflows for the first time in a decade due to Brexit, rising taxes, and new rules on non-domiciled wealth structures, triggering an ongoing wealth exit.
- Dubai’s Rapid Wealth Growth: In 2024, Dubai hosted 81,200 millionaires, 237 centimillionaires, and 20 billionaires—a major jump from 2023, according to Henley & Partners and New World Wealth.
- Tax-Friendly and Lifestyle Destinations Rise: Millionaires are now favoring locations like UAE, Monaco, Malta, Italy, Greece, and Switzerland, which offer a blend of fiscal advantages and lifestyle appeal.
- Emerging Wealth Hotspots: Montenegro leads globally in millionaire growth over the past decade (+124%), followed by Malta (+87%) and Latvia (+70%).
- UAE Ranks High in Investor Preference: A Savills survey confirmed Dubai and Abu Dhabi are top relocation choices due to low tax rates and luxurious living standards.
