For many years, the wealthiest families and high net worth individuals (HNWIs) around the world “used” New York, London or Singapore as their global urban cities of choice. In 2025, the tide has turned – Dubai has taken the pole position as the number one city for the global elite, displacing New York, according to a new ranking put together by Savills Plc and reported by Bloomberg. What’s happening here is not simply a story of luxury and tax arbitrage. What’s actually remarkable is the wide-ranging reasons for Dubai’s status – a cocktail of safety, family-oriented infrastructure, education, business-friendly regulations and a long-term stabilising force in an uncertain global economy.
Reasons for Dubai’s Rise
In just a matter of decades, Dubai has turned its identity from a desert trading port to one of the most dynamic cities in the world. Formerly known for its oil fortunes, it is now referred to as the place to do business, finance and live the luxury lifestyle. Both in migration and investment, Dubai has several key reasons for its continued rise up the chart.
Zero Personal Income Tax + No Capital Gains or Inheritance Tax
Dubai’s unique tax environment remains one of the strongest magnets pulling globally for investors and businesses. As reported by Savills, Dubai is a unique case for inheriting wealth, as it has no inheritance, capital gains or wealth taxes. Combined, this becomes a substantial positive for wealth holders, as it attracts businesses to Dubai and creates a long-term residential goal for global professionals seeking to grow and preserve their wealth across generations.
Strong Family Ecosystem & Education Framework
On top of the significant business benefit for wealthy individuals relocating to Dubai, it also boasts a quality of life for families. According to Gulf News, Dubai has the largest supply of any international city in the world. The safe neighbourhoods, high-quality medical care, and lifestyle of planned communities create a city suitable for family and career balance.
Pro-Business Initiatives and Worldwide Connectivity
Dubai has productively broadened its economy away from oil, establishing itself as a centre for finance, tech, logistics, and media. Organisations like the Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC) and investor-friendly legal frameworks that allow 100% foreign ownership show that Dubai is built for the business of the world. If you read Henley & Partners’ “World’s Wealthy Cities Report,” you’ll see that its number of millionaires has increased by over 100% in the last ten years, and Dubai is among the top few cities on earth.
Security & Stability in a World of Chaos
We live in a time of economic turmoil and political uncertainty, and having stability is the new luxury. Dubai ranks consistently high in terms of personal safety, integrity of law, and predictability of lifestyle for those who want not only opportunity but peace of mind. Dubai offers strong governance, superior infrastructure, and global connectivity that few places in the world can offer in full.
What This Means for India-linked HNWIs
For Indian entrepreneurs, professionals, and families desiring immigration, the shift towards Dubai is a particularly relevant development. While access to Middle Eastern connectivity, cultural overlay, proximity to India, and Indian schooling options are all motivating factors for Dubai as an alternative to traditional Western migration destinations, this shift indicates how immigration decisions have become about lifestyle factors, education and multi-generational planning, not just tax optimisation.
Luxury vs Long Term Confidence
Let me be clear — Dubai’s attraction is not only about glamour, mega-yachts or Bentleys (although there is plenty of that!). As per the Savills index, what makes it stand apart is its all-encompassing value proposition: lifestyle + family ecosystem + business opportunity + legal/geopolitical continuity. When it comes to the global super-rich, this means choosing a base that is sustainable for decades and not just opportunistic for a handful of years.
Final Word
By 2025, when the question will be where will the world’s wealthy live, invest and raise their families?, Dubai is providing an answer. It has leap-frogged New York to become the most accommodating city to the wealthy, and the rationale is apparent: this is not only about what you spend, but how you live, how you grow and how you build your future.
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