Dubai – 20 October 2026
The UAE has ranked first among emerging family office centres worldwide, according to the Family Offices: Best Jurisdictions Worldwide report by Global Citizen Solutions. The findings highlight the country’s growing role in private wealth management, with the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) recording a 36% year-on-year increase in family business-related entities.
The report gave the UAE an overall score of 74 out of 100, placing it at the top of nine emerging centres assessed. The country received a score of 100 for its regulatory and tax environment and 78 for its financial ecosystem and centre depth.
DIFC recorded 1,408 family business-related entities by the end of June 2026, reflecting continued growth in its family wealth and business ecosystem.
The Centre supports family businesses, private wealth advisers and family offices through its financial services ecosystem and the DIFC Family Wealth Centre, which focuses on areas including wealth preservation, succession planning and next-generation leadership.
The report also highlights the importance of considering both the needs of family offices and those of the families behind them, including wealth management, residency and long-term succession planning.
The findings reinforce the UAE’s growing presence in the global family office sector, with DIFC playing a role in supporting family businesses and wealth management activities in Dubai.
Source: Khaleej Times
