Wealthy flock to UAE, fueling Dubai’s 32% company surge: What to know
Gulf states are diversifying their economies away from reliance on oil, and the UAE is leading the charge, with the country on track to welcome nearly 10,000 high-net-worth individuals this year.
The Dubai International Financial Center, the Gulf’s largest economic hub, said Monday that company registrations grew by 32% in the first half of 2025, as the United Arab Emirates remained on track to welcome more high-net-worth individuals this year than any other country.
In a statement, the DIFC said 1,081 new companies — including asset management firms, hedge funds and family offices — registered in the first six months of the year.
The DIFC said it was its best-ever first-half performance, with the financial hub now hosting 7,700 active registered firms, up from 6,153 in H1 2024 — a 25% year-on-year increase.
The number of hedge funds in the DIFC rose by 72% in the first half of the year, with more than 85 now based there.
