Global wealth shift: UAE to welcome record 9,800 millionaires amid UK exodus
UK, China, India among biggest losers in 2025 millionaire migration
DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is emerging as a top destination for both high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and highly skilled migrants who prioritise quality of life over citizenship.
According to the Henley Private Wealth Migration Report 2025, the UAE is set to welcome a record 9,800 millionaires this year – more than any other country – reaffirming its status as the world's leading wealth magnet.
This trend aligns with recent academic findings by Prof. Anju Mary Paul, Professor of Social Research and Public Policy at New York University Abu Dhabi. Her research, published in Ethnic & Racial Studies, explores how highly skilled Indian women living in the UAE view migration choices. Many prefer staying in the UAE long-term, despite limited pathways to naturalisation, valuing the lifestyle, safety, tax benefits, and cultural familiarity over legal permanence.
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Comfort over citizenship
Contrary to traditional assumptions that top talent seeks citizenship in Western countries, Prof. Paul’s study finds that for many migrants, particularly from India and the Middle East, the UAE offers a more desirable alternative. Interviewees in her study frequently cited the country’s high standard of living, proximity to family, access to Indian schools and communities, affordable domestic help, and efficient governance as key reasons to stay.
Though aware of the risks tied to visa-based residence, many saw relocating to the West as potentially lowering their quality of life due to high taxes, household responsibilities, and social isolation. Others rejected the idea of returning to their home countries due to bureaucracy, corruption, or safety concerns. As a result, many opted to “stretch the present,” choosing comfortable transience in the UAE over uncertain permanence elsewhere.
Migration power shift
The UAE’s rise mirrors a broader global shift. The Henley Report forecasts a historic net outflow of 16,500 millionaires from the UK in 2025 – more than double China’s –7,800. India, too, is set to lose 3,500 millionaires, with many heading to the UAE. Pakistan is expected to lose around 100 millionaires, also largely to the Emirates.
This shift is influenced by tax reforms, political uncertainty, and rising global mobility. The UAE’s investor-friendly policies, Golden Visa schemes, and strategic location make it a haven not only for the ultra-wealthy but also for globally mobile professionals.
Post-West migration era
The convergence of policy, privilege, and place has positioned the UAE as the poster child for a “post-West” migration model. As Prof. Paul notes, migrants are increasingly prioritising material comfort over legal citizenship, especially when the former comes with stability, community, and lifestyle.
For many, the UAE represents a strategic choice – one where comfortable transience now trumps the pursuit of a passport.