Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has released the first report in its 2026 Future of Finance series, underscoring the city’s growing role as a global destination for high-net-worth individuals and family offices.
Titled Global Wealth Outlook: Rethinking Growth in a Changing World, the report examines how volatility, demographic shifts, and capital flows are reshaping global wealth.
The report notes that nearly 23 million high-net-worth individuals collectively hold close to US$87 trillion, highlighting their influence on global markets. Against this backdrop, Dubai is emerging as a preferred hub for investors seeking diversification, flexibility, and resilience.
Geography is increasingly treated as a key component of investment strategy, alongside traditional asset allocation, as jurisdictional stability becomes central to long-term wealth preservation. A $124 trillion intergenerational wealth transfer expected by 2048 is driving younger heirs toward private markets, artificial intelligence, sustainable investing, and impact-focused strategies.
Women now represent over a tenth of ultra-high-net-worth individuals and are projected to capture 95 percent of $54 trillion in inter-spousal transfers, often prioritising ethical, sustainable, and socially impactful investments. Renewable energy and AI are expected to lead growth in future portfolios.
Arif Amiri, CEO of DIFC Authority, said,
“Families are thinking about risk, resilience, and long-term growth. Increasingly, geographical allocation is becoming as important as how wealth is invested. DIFC offers a stable and globally connected environment for these decisions.”
The report also highlights Dubai’s largest family wealth ecosystem in the UAE, with more than 1,289 family-related entities, and the continued expansion of DIFC’s wealth infrastructure, including the world-first DIFC Family Wealth Centre. These initiatives position the city as a long-term partner for multi-generational wealth management and professionalised advisory services.
Dubai’s proactive approach reflects its ambition to shape, not just respond to, shifts in global wealth, solidifying its status as a hub for private and family capital.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
