HNWI with $87tr in wealth shape investment priorities: DIFC report

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) on Tuesday launched the first report in its 2026 Future of Finance series.

Titled "Global Wealth Outlook: Rethinking Growth in a Changing World," the report examines how global wealth is being reshaped by volatility, demographic change and shifting capital flows.

The world’s high-net-worth individual (HNWI) population of nearly 23 million individuals who collectively hold close to $87 trillion in wealth reinforces the scale and influence of this cohort on global capital markets.

Against this backdrop, the report underscores Dubai’s emergence as a destination of choice for HNWIs, family offices and global private capital as investors actively seek portfolios and markets that can deliver diversification, flexibility and resilience.

The report highlights a structural realignment in global wealth management. In an environment marked by persistent market volatility, geoeconomic uncertainty and increasingly uneven investment outcomes, wealthy individuals and families are rethinking both how and where capital is deployed.

Geography is increasingly treated as a portfolio consideration alongside asset allocation, as jurisdictional risk becomes a defining factor in long-term wealth preservation.

A central force behind this shift is the $124 trillion intergenerational wealth transfer expected to take place by 2048.

As younger heirs assume greater influence, investment strategies are evolving towards private markets, artificial intelligence, sustainability and impact, alongside traditional return objectives.

Next-generation wealth holders now pursue multi-dimensional prosperity – financial gains alongside resilience against drawdowns and inflation, portfolio flexibility for unexpected events, family unity across generations, tangible environmental and societal impact, and a solid family reputation.

The report mentions that women, who now represent over a tenth of ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs), are poised to capture 95 percent of $54 trillion in inter-spousal transfers.

Female heirs typically prioritise investments that reflect their ethics and social impact interests, such as sustainable, philanthropic or innovative projects.

Following AI, renewable energy is poised for the fastest growth trajectory in the coming years with sustainable investments featuring more prominently in UHNWI portfolios, according to the report. The ultra-wealthy are moving beyond the rhetoric on sustainability and backing their convictions with significant financial investments.

Wealth advisers are now expected to go beyond understanding valuations and portfolio construction. They must master private deal structures, identify credible venture and growth-stage partners and integrate data-driven analytics and insights into their own advisory practices.

The report also finds that despite technological advancements, wealth management remains a people-centric business. Advisers must build trust, navigate complex family dynamics and understand the unique goals and values of each family.

Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer of DIFC Authority, said, “The global wealth landscape is undergoing a structural shift. In an environment of volatility, regulatory divergence and generational change, families are thinking about risk, resilience and long-term growth. Increasingly, geographical allocation is becoming as important as how wealth is invested.

"Dubai, and in particular DIFC, has anticipated this shift and offers a stable and globally connected environment with regulatory clarity in which families and private investors can make long-term decisions with confidence.”

The outlook underscores Dubai’s position as a leading global hub for private and family wealth by combining the institutional depth of established financial centres with the agility, stability and tax efficiency sought by globally mobile investors.

Henley & Partners estimates that the UAE attracted approximately 9,800 new millionaires in 2025 – most of those in Dubai – representing the highest net inflow globally amidst shifting tax and policy environments in traditional financial centres.

With more than 1,289 family-related entities, representing the largest family wealth ecosystem in the UAE, DIFC underpins Dubai’s rise as a magnet for private wealth.

Supported by a comprehensive ecosystem spanning private banking, wealth and asset management, legal and advisory services, this growth is in direct alignment with the UAE’s designation of 2026 as the Year of Family, reflecting the increasingly pivotal role families play in global wealth stewardship.

The report also highlights the rapid professionalisation of family offices and wealth managers, as clients demand deeper private market access, AI-enabled analytics and more sophisticated governance and advisory capabilities.

DIFC is continuing to expand its wealth infrastructure to meet these needs, most notably through the DIFC Family Wealth Centre, a world-first initiative dedicated to supporting multi-generational families. The centre serves as a hub for thought leadership, peer networking and next-generation engagement, reinforcing DIFC’s role as more than a financial centre, but a long-term partner to families.

The Global Wealth Outlook: Rethinking Growth in a Changing World report underscores how Dubai is not only responding to shifts in global wealth but actively shaping the environment in which private and family capital can thrive.

WAM