UAE Billionaires Lead MENA Wealth in 2025, Gain $30 Billion
11 December, 2025
A new UBS report confirms that the UAE’s billionaire class remains the richest in the Middle East and Africa, recording a combined $30-billion increase in wealth in 2025. The country is also attracting thousands of new millionaires, reshaping the region’s wealth landscape.
UAE billionaires remain the wealthiest in the Middle East and Africa, recording a significant rise in their combined fortunes in 2025. According to UBS’s Billionaire Ambitions Report, the total wealth of the UAE’s billionaire community climbed by $30 billion (Dh110 billion), reaching $168.7 billion (Dh619 billion) this year.
The country also added one new billionaire, raising the total number to 19. Beyond this, the UAE continues to stand out as a global magnet for wealth. Henley & Partners’ 2025 Private Wealth Migration Report projects that the UAE will attract approximately 9,800 high-net-worth individuals, bringing with them an estimated $63 billion in capital—one of the highest inflows worldwide.
Compared with other MENA markets, the UAE strongly outperforms countries such as Israel, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, and Lebanon, all of which have significantly lower accumulated billionaire wealth.
The report further notes a major intergenerational transition on the horizon: around $31.9 billion (Dh117 billion) is expected to be transferred to heirs in the UAE over the next 15 years. This is the second-largest projected wealth transfer in the region, following Israel.
Analysts say this upward trend stems from a combination of strong entrepreneurial activity, favorable business regulations, and the UAE’s growing position as a preferred destination for wealthy families worldwide. This shift is expected to influence investment strategies, philanthropy, and succession planning across the region, signaling an evolving landscape for long-term wealth management.