Dubai & Abu Dhabi in Top 5 Global Wealth Destinations | 2025

Dubai and Abu Dhabi have emerged as major global magnets for high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) in 2025, ranking first and fifth respectively among nearly 100 international destinations evaluated by Savills.

Why the UAE Leads the Pack

Savills ranked destinations using five key pillars: business environment, lifestyle & wellness, family infrastructure, legacy planning, and privacy. Dubai topped the list; Abu Dhabi placed fifth.

The UAE’s appeal stems from:

• Robust pro-business climate and tax-friendly regulations (zero personal capital gains/inheritance taxes).

• Outstanding lifestyle and family infrastructure: Dubai leads globally for international schools with 168 institutions.

• Lifestyle-led migration and investment: HNWIs are shifting focus from traditional financial hubs (London, Singapore, Hong Kong) to cities offering deep lifestyle, security and wealth-planning benefits.

Implications for Real-Estate Investors

• Luxury residential demand: Locations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are increasingly sought by affluent buyers and global investors — implying upward pricing pressure on top-tier properties.

• Asset diversification: Real estate in these cities becomes a strong vehicle for wealth-diversifying professionals seeking stable, global-class homes or investment assets.

• Premium product segmentation: Branded developments, family-oriented gated communities and legacy homes will see stronger demand as wealth becomes mobile.

Outlook

The UAE’s elevation within the global wealth rankings reinforces its positioning not just as a regional real-estate market, but as a world-class destination for wealth, property and lifestyle. For MasidProperties, this means marketing must highlight not only “price & payment plan” but “lifestyle value, global mobility, legacy investment” to appeal to both domestic and international HNWIs.