Key Takeaways
- According to Altrata’s Billionaire Census 2026, published in August 2026, Dubai was home to 43 billionaires at the end of 2025, up from 41 a year earlier.
- Dubai’s 43 billionaires represented almost 73% of the UAE total under Altrata’s business-address methodology.
- Growth continued during the first half of 2026.
Dubai has strengthened its position as one of the world’s leading destinations for private wealth, ranking eighth globally for the number of billionaires based in the city.
According to Altrata’s Billionaire Census 2026, published in August 2026, Dubai was home to 43 billionaires at the end of 2025, up from 41 a year earlier.
The city shares eighth place with Shenzhen and ranks ahead of major global centres including Mumbai, Paris, Istanbul and Washington DC.
Altrata determines billionaire locations based on each individual’s primary business address, meaning the ranking reflects where their main business activity is based rather than simply where they hold citizenship or property.
Dubai enters the global top eight
New York remained the world’s leading billionaire city with 164 billionaires, followed by Hong Kong with 106 and San Francisco with 99.
London ranked fourth with 79 billionaires, while Singapore had 75, Los Angeles 73 and Beijing 61.
Dubai and Shenzhen followed with 43 billionaires each. Chicago recorded 42, Mumbai 40, Houston 39, Paris 38, Istanbul 37 and Washington DC 36.
Dubai’s billionaire population increased by around 4.9% during 2025, placing it three billionaires ahead of Mumbai, five ahead of Paris and seven ahead of Washington DC.
Altrata counted 975 billionaires across the world’s 15 leading billionaire cities, representing around 26% of the global billionaire population.
The figures also show that billionaire wealth is becoming more geographically distributed, with a growing number of wealthy individuals establishing business interests across multiple international cities.
UAE billionaire population rises 11.3%
At the country level, the UAE ranked 14th among the world’s 15 largest billionaire markets.
The country had 59 billionaires at the end of 2025, an increase of 11.3% compared with the previous year.
Their combined wealth reached approximately $201 billion, equivalent to AED738.2 billion.
Dubai’s 43 billionaires represented almost 73% of the UAE total under Altrata’s business-address methodology.
The UAE’s billionaire population grew faster than the global average of 8.2%.
Across the Middle East, billionaire numbers increased by around 5% to 254 individuals, with their combined wealth reaching approximately $700 billion.
Altrata highlighted economic diversification, major infrastructure investment and sovereign capital programmes as important contributors to wealth creation across the region, particularly in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Dubai was also the highest-ranked Middle Eastern city in the global top 15, ahead of Istanbul, which recorded 37 billionaires.
DIFC expands Dubai’s private wealth industry
Dubai’s growing billionaire population comes alongside rapid expansion in the emirate’s wealth management and family office sector.
Dubai International Financial Centre ended 2025 with more than 500 wealth and asset management companies, representing annual growth of 22%.
Family-related entities increased to 1,289, while the number of foundations established by DIFC-based families reached 1,115.
Growth continued during the first half of 2026.
By June, DIFC had 592 wealth and asset management firms, while family business-related entities reached 1,408. The number of foundations increased to 1,409.
The financial centre also reported more than 10,000 active registered companies and 1,134 regulated financial services firms.
This expanding financial infrastructure is helping Dubai provide services increasingly required by wealthy individuals and families, including private banking, asset management, succession planning, family offices, investment structures and foundations.
Wealth migration continues to support Dubai
International wealth migration is another major factor supporting Dubai’s position.
Henley & Partners projected that the UAE would receive a net inflow of 9,800 millionaires during 2025, the highest level recorded globally.
Those individuals were expected to bring approximately $63 billion, or AED231.4 billion, in investable wealth.
DIFC’s Global Wealth Outlook, published in February 2026, indicated that the majority of these wealthy migrants were expected to settle in Dubai.
The trend reflects Dubai’s growing appeal to internationally mobile investors, entrepreneurs and business owners.
Altrata also found that around one in five billionaires globally lives outside their country of birth, while more than 38% have commercial interests headquartered outside their main country of residence.
Factors influencing these decisions include business conditions, financial market access, regulatory stability, taxation and the ability to manage international investments efficiently.
Dubai increasingly competes strongly across all of these areas.
Global billionaire wealth reaches record levels
The growth comes during a strong period for global wealth creation.
Altrata counted 3,795 billionaires worldwide at the end of 2025, the highest number ever recorded.
The global billionaire population increased by 8.2%, adding a net 287 individuals during the year.
Combined billionaire wealth rose 12.8% to approximately $15.1 trillion, equivalent to around AED55.45 trillion.
Average billionaire wealth stood close to $4 billion, while median net worth was around $2 billion.
Business ownership remains the main source of billionaire wealth. Around 73% of the average billionaire portfolio is held in public or privately owned companies.
Banking and finance remains the largest primary industry among billionaires, accounting for 19.6%, followed by technology at 7.5% and real estate at 7.1%.
Dubai’s rise to 43 billionaires therefore represents more than a ranking.
It reflects the city’s wider development as a global centre for investment, private capital, family wealth and international business — and strengthens its position among the world’s most important destinations for high-net-worth individuals.
