What keeps coming up, again and again, is friction. Or the lack of it.
Dubai makes it easy to live well, operate globally, and plan long-term. Safety is a huge part of that feeling, too. Even with the usual caveat that some safety indexes are perception-based, Dubai ranks very high on widely used benchmarks like Numbeo’s Safety Index by City (Dubai appears near the top of their 2025 list). And on the broader stability lens, the UAE recorded one of the largest improvements in the 2024 Global Peace Index, moving up significantly in the rankings.
Then there’s residency. The UAE’s Golden Visa is a long-term residence option for eligible categories, and for many investors the property route is the clearest path to understand. Dubai Land Department’s investor Golden Visa service, for example, describes eligibility for real estate investors owning property with a purchase value of AED 2 million or more, and it also notes how mortgaged property can be accepted with supporting bank documentation.
You’ve probably seen the wealth migration headlines, too. Henley & Partners’ 2025 reporting describes the UAE as a leading wealth magnet, projecting a net inflow of +9,800 high-net-worth individuals in 2025.
So, why is this happening now, and why Dubai, specifically? Let’s break it down in a practical way, without pretending every move is purely about tax, or purely about lifestyle. It’s usually both, plus a few personal reasons people don’t always say out loud.
Dubai attracts billionaires because the UAE does not levy personal income tax on individuals, the city offers strong safety and stability signals, and long-term residency options like the Golden Visa help families plan ahead. Wealth migration data also points to the UAE as a top destination for high-net-worth relocation in 2025.
Billionaires are moving to Dubai primarily for its 0% personal income tax, a real feeling of safety, and a luxury lifestyle that is hard to replicate elsewhere without friction. Add a 10-year Golden Visa pathway for investors, a business-friendly setup, and a geography that makes “global” feel genuinely practical, and you start to see why the city keeps showing up in wealth migration conversations.
What this article covers
In this guide, we’ll walk through the most common, most practical reasons billionaires and high-net-worth families choose Dubai, plus what they often misunderstand at first.
You’ll see:
- The tax and wealth-structuring appeal, and what “0% income tax” really means
- Safety and stability, with reputable benchmarks and what residents actually feel day to day
- Golden Visa pathways, especially property investor eligibility
- Lifestyle, education, healthcare, and why “convenience” matters more than people admit
- A comparison table vs other global hubs (London, New York, Singapore, and more)
- The business ecosystem angle, including family offices and capital markets
A better, overview in plain English
Dubai’s pitch to the ultra-wealthy is surprisingly consistent:
- Keep more of what you earn, because the UAE does not levy personal income tax on individuals.
- Feel safer, because safety, policing, and public order are treated like a national priority, and multiple indices reflect that perception strongly.
- Live well, with infrastructure that is built for speed and comfort, plus a service culture that is, for better or worse, optimized for convenience.
- Get long-term residency, with clear pathways, including property investment at specific thresholds.
- Operate globally, because Dubai sits in a time zone that makes Europe, Asia, and Africa feel reachable in one working day.
That’s the headline. The deeper story is why these points matter more now than they did ten years ago.
Key reasons billionaires relocate to Dubai
1) Financial and tax advantages, and why “0%” is only the start
Let’s start with the obvious one, the UAE does not levy income tax on individuals. That’s not a rumor, it’s stated plainly on the UAE government’s official platform.
If you’re a founder, an investor, or someone whose income shows up as a messy blend of dividends, distributions, bonuses, carried interest, and capital events, the simplicity can feel almost surreal. In many countries, the tax conversation becomes the conversation. In Dubai, it often fades into the background, which is exactly the point.
A couple of important nuances (because people trip over these):
- The UAE does have VAT on goods and services, the standard headline is 5%.
- The UAE has introduced corporate tax in recent years, so “Dubai is tax-free” is an oversimplification depending on structure. The personal income tax point still holds, but businesses need proper advice.
- Wealthy families often care about predictability as much as rate. A stable, legible system is a feature.
And yes, for many, the motivator is comparative. When other jurisdictions tighten rules, remove special tax statuses, or lean into more aggressive “anti-wealth” politics, Dubai can feel like an exit ramp. You can see that sentiment even in mainstream coverage, where advisers describe clients feeling increasingly scrutinized at home and more comfortable operating in Dubai.
2) Safety, stability, and the psychology of “low friction living”
This is the one people underestimate until they spend time here.
There are different ways to measure safety. Some are perception-based, some are conflict-based, some reflect trust in policing and lived experience. Dubai tends to perform well across multiple angles.
- Numbeo’s mid-year 2025 rankings placed the UAE at the top of its Safety Index by Country, and also highlighted a very low Crime Index score. (Worth noting, Numbeo is crowd-sourced, useful as perception, not a perfect crime-stat substitute.)
- Gallup’s Law and Order framing looks at how safe people feel, confidence in police, and reported experiences of theft or assault, and the UAE scores strongly in that region-wide context.
- The Global Peace Index is a different lens, more about societal safety and conflict, and it has shown notable improvement for the UAE in recent years.
Why does this matter for billionaires? Because wealth is portable, but families are not. A place that feels safe for children, spouses, staff, and visiting relatives is not just “nice.” It becomes a deciding factor.
There’s also a simple, slightly awkward truth, in Dubai, luxury is normalized. That can remove the social tension some wealthy people feel elsewhere. It’s not always admirable, but it is real, and it shows up repeatedly in relocation narratives.
3) Lifestyle and infrastructure, the “it just works” factor
Dubai sells lifestyle, but the more durable selling point is infrastructure.
Roads, airports, digital government services, delivery ecosystems, hospitality standards, private healthcare options, premium gyms, beach clubs, events, dining, it’s a long list. And if you’re used to places where everything takes three appointments and six weeks, Dubai can feel… oddly efficient.
Also, international schooling is a huge driver for families. People talk about yachts and penthouses, but the real day-to-day is more like, “Can my kids get a top-tier education, can we access healthcare quickly, can my team move easily, can we travel without headaches?”
If you want to build a genuinely global lifestyle, Dubai is built for that rhythm.
Comparison table, Dubai vs traditional wealth hubs
Here’s a practical snapshot. It’s simplified, but it helps.
| Factor | Dubai (UAE) | London (UK) | New York (USA) | Singapore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal income tax | 0% personal income tax (federal) (U.AE) | High, progressive | High, federal plus state/city | Progressive |
| Residency pathway for investors | Golden Visa routes, incl. property value thresholds (Dubai Land Department) | Investor options changed over time | Complex, varies by visa type | Structured, selective |
| Safety perception | Very high in several indices (Gulf News) | Mixed | Mixed | High |
| “Global connector” time zone | Strong for EU, Asia, Africa | Strong for EU | Strong for Americas | Strong for Asia |
| Lifestyle for UHNW | Extremely strong, luxury mainstream | Strong, legacy appeal | Strong, but high friction | Strong, orderly |
You could argue with parts of this table, and that’s fair. The point is, Dubai competes by reducing friction, not by copying the West.
Additional Resources
4) Golden Visa and long-term residency, the part that makes plans feel “real”
A lot of wealthy people don’t just want a nice place to visit. They want a place where they can actually settle, build routines, base staff, enroll kids, and know they are not one election cycle away from a rules change that flips their life upside down.That’s why Dubai’s long-term residency options matter so much, especially the 10-year Golden Visa.
The UAE government’s Golden Visa program offers long-term residency for eligible categories, including investors and people with specialized talent, and it’s widely positioned as part of the country’s strategy to attract and retain global capital and expertise.
For most global investors reading this, the property angle is the simplest mental model, even if it’s not always the only path.
Golden Visa through property, what people actually care about
If you strip away the marketing, investors typically want clarity on five points:
- What is the qualifying threshold?
- Does it need to be paid in full, or can it be mortgaged?
- Is it based on purchase price, market value, or title deed value?
- How long does it take, what’s the process?
- Can family be sponsored, and what about domestic staff?
Because here’s the truth, the Golden Visa isn’t only a visa. It’s permission to plan long-term, and planning is a huge part of wealth preservation.
I’ve also noticed something slightly funny, people who claim they “don’t care about residency” often care a lot once they start thinking about schools, medical coverage, and opening local bank relationships. It sneaks up on them.
Read this article if you want a practical walk-through of buying as a foreigner, including due diligence, title checks, and step sequencing.
Quick comparison table, Dubai Golden Visa vs “typical” residency in other hubs
This is not a legal chart, it’s a reality chart.
| Feature | Dubai (Golden Visa) | Many Western hubs |
|---|---|---|
| Residency timeline | Long-term options designed to retain investors | Often slower, more conditional |
| Stability perception | High, policy direction is pro-investment | Can shift with politics |
| “Lifestyle integration” | Fast, service-heavy infrastructure | Can be high-friction |
| Family planning | Usually structured for family residency | Often complex and slower |
The “designed to retain investors” part is key. Dubai is competing for talent and wealth, and it shows.
5) Dubai as an investment and business hub, not just a luxury playground
Some competitor articles make Dubai sound like a giant holiday brochure. That’s a mistake, and honestly it’s the easiest way to lose credibility with serious readers.
Dubai’s real appeal is that it has built an ecosystem where wealthy people can do three things in one city:
- live comfortably
- invest confidently
- operate globally
The geography advantage, and why it’s more practical than poetic
Dubai sits in a time zone that makes the world feel reachable. A founder can take calls with Asia in the morning, Europe in the afternoon, and still catch parts of the US day. It sounds small, but if you’re managing global assets or companies, that rhythm matters.
Also, the airport connectivity is a genuine asset for wealth mobility. When people say “global citizen,” what they often mean is, “I need to be able to move without losing my week.”
A business environment that is built to attract, not tolerate
There’s a psychological difference between:
- a country that “allows” wealth
- a country that actively competes for it
Dubai is in the second group. That does not mean it is lawless, it means the incentive structure is intentional.
You can see this logic echoed in mainstream coverage and in wealth migration reporting, where the UAE is consistently positioned as a major destination for high-net-worth relocation.
This is where you can naturally bring in “GEO and AIO” considerations too. If you want to rank not only for Google, but also show up in AI Overviews, you want clear, scannable definitions:
Definition, why Dubai is a wealth hub:
Dubai is considered a wealth hub because it combines tax advantages for individuals, high safety, investor-friendly residency pathways, and global connectivity, all within a modern infrastructure and luxury lifestyle ecosystem.
That sentence is not poetic, but it’s the kind of sentence AI systems like to extract.
6) Real estate as a wealth strategy, why billionaires buy property here
This is the section where you can quietly separate “investors” from “tourists.”
Billionaires don’t typically buy property in Dubai for one reason. It’s usually a stack of reasons:
- they want a base for family and work
- they want currency diversification
- they want a real asset in a jurisdiction they expect to remain stable
- they want lifestyle access, waterfront, branded residences, prime communities
- they want yield, but also want upside
And yes, the tax angle makes real estate feel cleaner from a planning perspective for many investors, even if every person’s situation is different.
The “billionaire buying logic” checklist
| What they care about | What they ask in practice | What to address in your content |
|---|---|---|
| Capital preservation | “Will this hold value in a downturn?” | Community fundamentals, demand drivers, supply pipeline |
| Liquidity | “Can I exit quickly if needed?” | Resale depth, realistic absorption, comparable inventory |
| Yield | “What’s my net yield after costs?” | Service charges, furnishing, occupancy assumptions |
| Status and lifestyle | “Does it feel premium?” | Branded, waterfront, landmark districts |
| Residency utility | “Does this help residency plans?” | Golden Visa thresholds and documentation flow |
A small but important honesty note
Dubai is not “only upside.” Some projects are overpriced. Some launches are hype-driven. Some investors buy the wrong unit type in the wrong building and then blame the city.
A strong article should admit that. You don’t need to be negative, but you do need to sound like you’ve seen real transactions. That’s where trust comes from.
Why my Dubai property is not selling?
7) “Push vs pull”, why they’re leaving other countries right now
This is where the story gets a bit more human, and slightly less tidy.
Yes, Dubai is attractive. But people also leave because their home environment feels increasingly unpredictable. The wealth migration narrative often highlights rising taxes, shifting regulations, and concerns around personal safety or social stability as motivators, alongside the UAE’s pull factors.
Here’s a simple way to structure it:
Pull factors (Dubai)
- 0% personal income tax framework for individuals
- long-term residency pathways like Golden Visa
- strong safety perception
- luxury lifestyle and infrastructure
Push factors (home countries)
- tax pressure, more scrutiny, and reduced flexibility
- regulation creep, reporting complexity
- quality-of-life friction, safety concerns in certain cities
- political polarization and uncertainty
I’m not saying every country is “bad,” plenty are still amazing. But for a billionaire trying to protect family and capital, “amazing” isn’t enough, it has to be stable, predictable, and easy to operate in.
And that’s the pattern you keep seeing.
8) The tax residency piece, what wealthy people quietly sort out (and what they often misunderstand)
It’s tempting to say, “Dubai has 0% personal income tax, done.” And yes, the UAE government does state that it does not levy income tax on individuals, and it also notes VAT at 5% on goods and services.
But for high-net-worth families, the real question is usually, “How do I make my life and my paperwork match?”
Because your home country might still care where you live, where you manage assets, where your companies are controlled, and whether you actually changed residency or just changed your Instagram location. That is where people get messy, and it’s also where smart families become very disciplined.
UAE tax residency certificate, the practical proof many people need
If you need evidence for treaty purposes or documentation, the UAE Federal Tax Authority provides a process for issuing a Tax Residency Certificate, including criteria related to days spent in the UAE and documentation like Emirates ID, passport, and entry-exit reports.
And the Ministry of Finance highlights the UAE’s extensive network of Double Taxation Agreements and related treaties, which is part of the country’s broader competitiveness strategy.
I’m not saying everyone needs a TRC, but wealthy movers often want the option. They like having a clean, defensible file.
One more nuance people miss, corporate tax exists, but personal investment income is treated differently
This is where the internet gets noisy, so I’ll keep it clean.
The UAE’s Federal Tax Authority explains that a natural person may be subject to Corporate Tax only if they conduct business in the UAE and exceed a turnover threshold, and it also clarifies that sources like wages, personal investment income, and real estate investment income are not considered “Business or Business Activities” for this purpose.
That distinction matters for investors. It does not replace professional advice, but it helps people stop repeating outdated one-liners.
A simple “tax clarity” table for your readers
| Topic | What people assume | What you should say instead |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai is tax-free | “No taxes at all” | The UAE does not levy personal income tax, VAT exists, and businesses can be subject to corporate tax depending on facts |
| Residency is automatic | “Buying a condo makes me resident” | Residency pathways exist, but tax residency is a separate concept and may require days and documentation |
| My home country stops taxing me | “I moved, so I’m done” | Many countries use their own residency tests, get professional advice, keep your file clean |
That last line is not dramatic, but it’s the truth.
9) Is Dubai really safe, and why wealthy families put so much weight on it
Safety is a weird thing to write about, because it’s both measurable and emotional.
Still, a lot of global indices and perception measures place the UAE very high on safety and law-and-order sentiment, and Dubai benefits from that overall environment.
For billionaires, the practical outcomes are what matter:
- families feel comfortable moving around
- luxury signals do not create the same level of risk anxiety
- visiting relatives and staff can operate with fewer “rules”
It’s not that crime does not exist. It’s that the baseline experience, for most people, feels unusually calm.
10) The “wealth migration” headline is real, but it’s not only billionaires
Your intro mentions the widely cited number of +9,800 millionaires moved to the UAE in 2025. That figure shows up in Henley & Partners reporting, including their press release coverage for the Private Wealth Migration Report 2025.
Mainstream media repeats that story too, NDTV referenced Henley’s report and the same projected number for 2025.
Two important points
The figure includes millionaires broadly, not only billionaires.
The reason it matters anyway is signal, it suggests Dubai is winning the “destination competition” for high-net-worth relocation.
11) Who Dubai is best for, and who might not love it
| Profile | Dubai tends to be a strong fit when… | Dubai may feel frustrating when… |
|---|---|---|
| Founders and operators | You want a global base, fast services, and investor-friendly residency pathways | You need deep legacy ecosystems in one niche, or you dislike “new city” energy |
| Investors | You want personal tax simplicity and asset diversification, plus real estate optionality | You want ultra-low cost living, or you prefer sleepy markets |
| Families | You value safety, private healthcare access, and international schooling options | You want a slower pace, or you dislike heat and summer seasonality |
| Public figures | You want privacy, security, and a place where wealth is not socially punished | You want a culture that is deeply similar to your home environment |
12) A practical relocation checklist, the “okay, how do they actually do it?” section
- Clarify your goal, tax, lifestyle, security, business, all of the above
- Get proper cross-border advice, because your home country rules still matter
- Choose the residency route, Golden Visa, employment, company setup, family sponsorship
- Set up your banking and documentation trail, keep it clean
- Decide where you will live, community choice affects daily happiness more than most people admit
- If buying property, do due diligence properly, title, developer track record, payment plan, exit liquidity
- If pursuing Golden Visa via property, align value and documentation, Dubai Land Department’s investor Golden Visa terms reference a AED 2 million property value threshold and note that a mortgaged property can be accepted with a bank no-objection letter.
- Sort schooling and healthcare, this is often the real timeline driver
- Establish day-count discipline, especially if you need tax residency evidence later
- Create a “life ops” setup, drivers, assistants, property management, security, the boring stuff that makes life smooth
13) Common misconceptions, and a gentle reality check
“Dubai is only for luxury and influencers”
Dubai does luxury extremely well, but it’s also built as a serious business and investment environment. The wealth migration numbers are part of that story, not separate from it.
“Golden Visa is automatic if I buy anything”
Golden Visa criteria are specific, and the DLD investor Golden Visa service states terms like AED 2 million property value, and outlines mortgage NOC requirements if the property is mortgaged.
“If I move to Dubai, my home country can’t tax me”
Sometimes yes, sometimes no, it depends. That’s why serious people get advice and document their residency properly, including potentially using UAE TRC processes when relevant.
FAQs
Why are billionaires moving to Dubai right now?
Primarily for personal tax advantages, safety, long-term residency options, and a high-end lifestyle with strong global connectivity. The UAE is also projected to lead global millionaire net inflows in 2025, which reinforces the trend.
Do you pay income tax in Dubai?
The UAE government states it does not levy income tax on individuals. VAT applies to goods and services.
Is Dubai safe for families?
Dubai benefits from a broader UAE environment that scores very highly on multiple safety and law-and-order perception measures.
What is the Dubai Golden Visa?
The UAE government describes the Golden Visa as a long-term residence visa that enables eligible people to live, work, or study in the UAE while enjoying benefits.
Can I get a Golden Visa if I buy property in Dubai?
Dubai Land Department’s investor Golden Visa service outlines a property value threshold of AED 2 million and includes conditions, including how mortgaged property may be treated with a bank NOC letter.
Is Dubai a good place to buy real estate for wealth preservation?
It can be, especially for investors seeking asset diversification, a global base, and stable demand in prime districts, but unit selection and project fundamentals matter. Use real comps, not hype.
What is a Tax Residency Certificate in the UAE?
The Federal Tax Authority provides a process for issuing tax certificates for tax residency, including criteria related to physical presence and documentation.
How many millionaires are moving to the UAE?
Henley & Partners’ 2025 reporting cites a projected net inflow of +9,800 relocating millionaires to the UAE in 2025.
Conclusion
If you strip away the hype, Dubai’s advantage is that it’s designed to be a destination, not a temporary parking spot. It combines personal tax simplicity for individuals, long-term residency tools like the Golden Visa, strong global connectivity, and a lifestyle that genuinely works for busy families.
And the trend looks durable. When a city starts attracting not just residents, but family offices, entrepreneurs, and multi-generation plans, it tends to build momentum. The Henley reporting projecting +9,800 net inflows in 2025 is one of the clearest signals of that momentum.
Still, I’ll say the quiet part. Dubai is not automatically a good decision for every investor. The difference between a great outcome and a frustrating one is usually selection and structure. Which community, which building, which unit type, what payment plan, what exit liquidity, and how you document your residency and tax position.
If you want help turning the “Dubai idea” into an actual plan, including shortlisting high-potential projects, comparing payment plans, and mapping a realistic path to long-term residency, you can reach out to me directly.