Dubai has solidified its status as a global hub for private wealth in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, thanks to its robust institutional framework and the vibrancy of emerging markets, placing it among the leading cities in this domain. The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) announced the release of a new edition of its report series titled “The Future of the Financial Sector,” focusing on “The Shift Towards Private Capital.” The report highlights the rapid growth of private wealth and its increasingly cross-border nature, contributing to the reshaping of financial market dynamics and reinforcing Dubai’s position as a preferred destination for high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and private equity investors.
Competitive Advantage
The report emphasized that the global financial sector is experiencing a swift transition toward private markets, with expectations that assets in these markets will surpass $30 trillion by 2030. This growth is driven by investors seeking more reliable investment opportunities with higher returns. At the same time, global private wealth has reached a record-high of $471 trillion, having increased by over $340 trillion since 1995, which is more than eight times the growth rate of public wealth during the same period. A significant characteristic of this phase is the expected transfer of substantial wealth, estimated at around $124 trillion, between generations over the next two decades. Young heirs are showing an increasing interest in technology, sustainability, and impact investing, likely accelerating the demand for more tailored wealth management solutions and advanced platforms for private capital.
Key Driver
Dubai has emerged as the foremost global center for private wealth in the region, blending a strong institutional framework with the dynamism of emerging markets. By 2025, Dubai’s overall ranking improved to twelfth place in the “Global Financial Centres Index,” joining prominent cities such as London, New York, and Paris due to its extensive capabilities across all sectors of finance. The DIFC is the primary engine behind this growth, recording a historic performance by the end of the first half of 2025, with 7,700 active companies, achieving a remarkable annual growth rate of 25%. The center’s financial ecosystem currently includes more than 440 companies in wealth and asset management, 85 hedge funds, and a robust array of private equity and venture capital firms, alongside 1,035 entities connected to family businesses, reflecting the diversity and depth that solidify its status as a leading global center for private capital.
Prominent Portfolio
The DIFC also hosts a distinguished portfolio of firms that have chosen Dubai and the DIFC as a regional base to support the growth of private markets. This portfolio includes companies like Arab Investments, Baron Capital, Pico Capital, Cambridge Associates, CDR Capital, Levent Capital, Haven, Middle East Venture Partners, Morningstar, Naya Capital, Pearl Diver Capital, PIMCO, Squarepoint Capital, Silver Point Capital, and TVM Capital.
Global Insights
The report presents global insights from key leaders in the finance sector, including Mark Ochida from Cambridge Associates, Philippe Amarante from Henley & Partners, and Antoine Colson, CEO of the International Private Capital Market. Reflecting Dubai’s growing influence in the global financial scene, the International Private Capital Market will hold its inaugural preliminary event in the Middle East at the DIFC in December 2025, followed by a special edition during the “Dubai Financial Sector Future Week” in May 2026.
Family Offices
Antoine Colson, CEO of the International Private Capital Market, stated, “Dubai’s ability to align long-term capital with a forward-looking strategic vision, combined with its robust regulatory framework and thriving family office ecosystem, is a crucial factor that positions it as the ideal destination for the expansion of the International Private Capital Market. We look forward to enhancing collaboration with the DIFC to connect global investors with the promising opportunities offered by this dynamic center.” The report “The Future of the Financial Sector: The Shift Towards Private Capital” asserts that Dubai not only keeps pace with shifts in global markets but also plays an active role in shaping them.