UAE ranks first among emerging family office destinations
The UAE has ranked first globally among emerging destinations for family offices, reflecting its growing appeal to families managing wealth, investments and succession across generations.
The country scored 74 points in the Best Global Destinations for Family Offices report, published by the Global Intelligence Unit of Global Citizen Solutions. Qatar placed second in the emerging destinations category, followed by India, Malaysia and Italy.
Dubai’s expanding family wealth sector adds weight to that position. By the end of June 2026, the Dubai International Financial Centre had recorded 1,408 family-related entities, an increase of 36 per cent year on year.
Strong scores for regulation and financial infrastructure
The UAE received perfect scores of 100 for both regulation and taxation, alongside 78 points for its financial ecosystem — the highest financial ecosystem score among the emerging destinations assessed.
The findings highlight the combination of legal frameworks, financial infrastructure and specialist services available to families with substantial assets.
For these families, choosing a base involves decisions that extend beyond investment performance. Structures for managing ownership, planning succession and transferring responsibilities between generations also shape where they establish their operations.
The report identifies the UAE’s developing services in these areas as an important part of its appeal.
Dubai’s family wealth sector continues to expand
The growth recorded at DIFC illustrates the increasing scale of family-related activity in Dubai.
Its 1,408 family-related entities encompass a broader category than family offices alone, reflecting the range of structures supporting family wealth and business interests.
The report highlights DIFC’s Family Arrangements Regulations and the frameworks available at Abu Dhabi Global Market as part of the country’s specialised legal environment.
DIFC was established in 2004 and introduced a family office regulatory framework in 2008, giving Dubai an early foundation for developing this sector within the region.
How the report defines an emerging destination
The emerging category follows the report’s methodology for distinguishing how family office centres developed.
It separates jurisdictions that introduced dedicated frameworks to attract family offices from those where the industry grew historically before specialised regulations were established.
That distinction helps explain the UAE’s classification alongside its established financial infrastructure.
The report also highlights Dubai’s seventh-place position among global financial centres in the 2026 Z/Yen Partners classification, placing the emirate’s family wealth activity within a wider financial services ecosystem.
Families are planning across borders
The ranking also reflects a broader shift towards international diversification.
Citing the UBS Global Family Office Report 2026, the study notes that 88 per cent of family offices hold investable financial assets in at least two countries.
Patricia Casaburi, founder and CEO of Global Citizen Solutions, said cross-border mobility has become integrated into family offices’ diversification strategies.
Decisions about where family members live and their legal status are increasingly considered alongside the location of assets. João Pacheco, the company’s head of institutional client relations, similarly highlighted the growing connection between investment diversification and citizenship planning.
The UAE’s position brings these priorities together: a base for managing capital, supporting family businesses and preparing for the next generation.
