Wealth in Movement: Exploring emerging destinations for capital | Mint

A global wealth migration reform in 2025 is expected to relocate approximately 142,000 millionaires internationally, from approximately 134,000 in 2024, according to the Henley & Partners Private Wealth Migration Report 2025. This movement is powered by changing perceptions of tax, management and long term. In the countries expected to experience the largest net inflow of millionaires in 2025, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) stands out – to get 9,800 new millionaires this year alone, the highest worldwide. Dubai, home to 81,200 millionaires – with a growth rate of 102% and 237 Centi millionaires (individuals with more than $ 100 million in wealth), is a major destination for this influx of global wealth. Country Millionaire Migration – 2025 (expected) Estimated Wealth of Migrant Millionaires (USD Billion) Millionaire Growth% (2014 – 2024) UAE +9,800 63.0 98% USA +7,500 43.7 78% Italy +3.600 20.7 20% Switzerland +3,000 16.8 Saudi Arab +2.400 18.4 55%: Private Wealth Migration Report 2025 Jurisdictions that are once elected for tax efficiency are now reconsidered by a broader lens – where management, deep talent pools, legal reliability, mobility paths and lifestyle infrastructure growing roles play in the decisions on wealth. What drives the shift in wealth migration -wealth housing today is just as shaped by risk management as on occasion. While the numbers show where capital flows, it is just as critical to understand why it is moving. Rising geopolitical uncertainty, the tightening of tax regimes and the increasing regulatory complexity in traditional financial centers ask that individuals with high net worth reconsider their base jurisdictions. According to Knight Frank’s wealth report, 2024.19% of Uhnwis is actively considering a second residence or citizenship. The European Lifestyle Report 2024, based on a survey of 750 HNWIs in 11 European countries, further makes the motivations behind such movements – with safety, jobs and tax rankings as the top three factors affecting relocation decisions. As a result, jurisdictions that provide stability, long -term accommodation and institutional confidence – rather than short -term incentives – are increasingly preferred by global mobile families who want to preserve and grow wealth by generations. Get Dubai Traction under Global Elite? Change in the forecasts of the wealth accommodation patterns indicates that if Dubai attracts even 5% of the projected migrant millionaires in 2025, it can see a net inflow of about 7,100 high net value individuals, representing an estimated AED 26 billion (USD 7.1 billion) in new capital inflows. A policy environment built for the economic direction of continuity Dubai is led by the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33)-a 10-year (2023-2033) blueprint to double the GDP of the Emirate and increase it in the world’s top three urban economies. In addition to macro goals, the agenda institutional continuity, economic diversification and digital management emphasize, and fit closely with what mobile wealth seekers are looking for: predictability in a volatile world. In recognition of its digital leadership, Dubai was recently worldwide in the IMD Smart City index 2025, making it the highest city in the GCC, Arabic region and Asia -with a resident of more than 84% over key services such as health, e -goovernance, internet speed and public transport. Ease to do business as a fundamental advantage Dubai’s landscape for business setup is still developing into a high-effective, digitally integrated ecosystem. In the first quarter 2025 alone, more than 19,000 new commercial licenses were issued in Dubai, representing 59% of all business licenses across the UAE, and indicate the strong confidence of the market and the ease of access for investors. The investment in Dubai platform serves as a single-window digital service that enables investors to complete commercial licensing, approvals, payments and renewals by a united online interface. An important progress under the D33 is the Dubai Unified License Initiative. The initiative assigns each business a unique identification number and QR code, whether on the continent or a free zone, creating a united business identity throughout emirates. This system facilitates data access for government departments, banks, aid programs and service providers, and makes processes such as opening bank account and license updates more seamless. The Dubai Chamber or Digital Economy further helped to start and expand 127 digital startups, an increase of 135% over the previous year, which emphasizes and expands the government’s support for entrepreneurship and streamlined access to capital and infrastructure. Financial services and advisory growth at the end of H1 2025 were 440 firms involved in wealth and asset management, in the Dubai financial ecosystem, including about 85 hedge funds, which reflect a significant increase in fund -related activities. According to the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) semi -annual results, the number of businesses with family ownership grew by 73% compared to H1 2024, while foundations registered in the center increased by 54%, reaching a total of 842. Authority (SCA) and Dubai courts for broader continental operations. Property and Physical Settlement assets CBRES show that sales of residential real estate in Dubai reached 434 billion in 2024, which was a 33% increase over the previous year. The city recorded nearly 181,000 transactions, reflecting a sustained increase in demand. Within the luxury segment, your ultra-high-net-net value buyers (net worth more than USD 20 million) in 2024 made up about 4.4 billion to purchases from USD, which was an increase of 76% year-on-year, according to the report of Knight Frank’s Dubai 2024. 2024 increased by 147%, making it the fastest growing prime residential market worldwide during that period. Recent market data indicates that villa sales activity in Dubai increased by 65% in early 2025, with transaction values reaching about 53.4 billion, according to Provident Estate. For the full year, about 19,700 new luxury villas are expected to be delivered, based on estimates of DXB Interact. However, the offer at the top of the market remains relatively limited. This developing supply-demand dynamics can affect the way luxury real estate in Dubai is considered part of broader wealth migration and capital allocation strategies. Lifestyle, talent and safety as strategic drivers Dubai’s appeal to global mobile wealth increasingly depends on the integration of quality of life, talent access, long -term infrastructure and personal security. More than 220 private schools work across the city and offer 17 international curricula, with more than 84% of students attending institutions as ‘good’ or better by knowledge and human development authority (KHDA). Access to healthcare is equally strong, with more than 3,900 facilities, including 50+ hospitals and 600+ clinics, while the city attracted medical tourists in 2023, which yielded AED 1.03 billion in revenue, according to Dubai Health Authority (DHA). Safety and stability are central to the overall attraction of Dubai. The UAE was the safest country in the world in Numbeo’s 2025 mid-year security index, with a score of 85.2, before more than 160 countries worldwide. Within the country, Dubai has finished third worldwide under cities with an 83.8 safety degree, reflecting continuously low crime rates and high levels of public safety residents. Along with world-class education and healthcare systems, Dubai’s long-term visa options for investors, entrepreneurs and highly competent professionals strengthen the role of the city as a place where families can build a lasting wealth and meaningful personal roots. Forecasting: Building the relevance for the next generation as wealth strategies develop to prioritize resilience, long-term visibility and multi-generation planning, Dubai does not just position itself as a wealth pivot as a jurisdiction that can adapt with its residents. The ongoing investments in regulation, infrastructure and talent indicate a long game: one focus on permanence, not just presence. Rather than competing exclusively on tax efficiency or comfortable business, Dubai is now being evaluated for the depth of its legal frameworks, the maturity of its financial services and the ability to serve as a stable basis in the midst of global uncertainty. For a growing number of families and institutions, the question moves – from where wealth can be kept to where it can be meaningfully cultivated, protected and meaningfully lived. Note for the reader: This article is a promotional function and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Mint. Coin does not endorse/draw on the content (s) of the article/advertisement and/or see (s) expressed herein. 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