Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has released the latest edition of its flagship Future of Finance report, showcasing the city’s growing prominence in private wealth and capital markets.
Titled ‘Shift to Private Capital’, the report underscores how global private wealth is reshaping financial markets and positioning Dubai as a top destination for high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and private capital investors.
The report highlights a global tilt toward private markets, with assets expected to exceed $30 trillion by 2030. Private wealth has reached a record $471 trillion, growing eight times faster than public wealth since 1995. Over the next two decades, an estimated $124 trillion in intergenerational wealth transfer will further drive demand for technology, sustainability, and personalised private capital solutions.
Dubai has emerged as the region’s leading hub for private wealth, combining the institutional strength of established markets with the dynamism of emerging economies. In 2025, the city ranked 12th in the Global Financial Centres Index, alongside London, New York, and Paris. DIFC now hosts 7,700 companies, including 440 wealth and asset managers, 85 hedge funds, and over 1,000 family-related businesses.
The report features insights from global finance leaders, including Cambridge Associates, Henley & Partners, and the International Private Equity Market (IPEM). Reflecting Dubai’s rising influence, IPEM will host its first Middle East preview at DIFC in December 2025 and a landmark edition during Dubai Future Finance Week in May 2026.
Antoine Colson, IPEM CEO, highlighted Dubai’s strong regulatory framework and thriving family office ecosystem as key reasons for its expansion in the region. The report confirms that Dubai is not just keeping pace with the transformation of global financial markets but actively shaping their future.
News Source: Dubai Media Office
