The UAE Emerges as the Top Destination for Affluent Migrants in 2022: An Analysis of the Country's Strategic Efforts to Attract Investment and Position Itself as a Hub for Wealth
In 2022, the Middle East witnessed a surge in affluent migrants, with the UAE leading the way as the largest net inflow of millionaires globally. This has been attributed to the country’s strategic efforts to position itself as a hub for wealth and investment. As Naushid Mithani, head of Private Banking for the UAE and global South Asian community at Standard Chartered, puts it, the UAE is a “powerful magnet for capital.” Since gaining independence from the UK in 1971, the UAE has pursued a vision of attracting the wealthy and facilitating their investments. To that end, the country has invested heavily in infrastructure and deployed tax incentives to encourage investment. The authorities have also been open to bending local traditions to accommodate Western-style luxury lifestyles. In addition, the UAE has created ample opportunities for funding and investment. One of the key recent policy changes is the 100% foreign ownership of companies not considered of strategic importance, wh...