A substantial number of family-related entities, including family offices, have relocated to Dubai in the past year, according to Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

The DIFC, an economic zone within Dubai with its own legal framework, now hosts 1,289 family-related companies, compared to 800, a 61 percent increase, a year ago. The number of family-related companies grew by 33 percent in 2024.

“What we are seeing is a structural shift in how global families think about jurisdictional risk and long-term capital stewardship,” said Arif Amiri, CEO of the DIFC Authority. “Families are no longer choosing a location simply for tax efficiency or proximity to markets. They are also looking for stability, legal protection, and operational maturity in a world that feels increasingly volatile.”

In addition to the family offices, 1,115 foundations have been established in the zone, almost three times as many as there were in 2023. The DIFC declined to provide information on the countries that families and foundations are relocating from.

To attract families and financial services firms, Dubai has established business-friendly policies, introduced tax benefits, and is touting its quality of life. It has a distinct court and regulatory system under English common law and, unlike other parts of the UAE, allows foreigners to own an entire company, without a local partner.

The city has also become a hub for international banks, asset managers, and law firms in recent years. Overall, the number of companies in the DIFC grew by 28 percent year over year in 2025. More than 500 wealth and asset management firms are based in the DIFC.

The industry is scaling in parallel, committing capital and people, and not just registering satellite entities, added Amiri. “It tells us that DIFC is functioning as a primary operating base for global institutions and families, and not just a peripheral jurisdiction.”

DIFC released a framework of targeted regulations in 2023 that give families clarity around governance, succession, and control, managed through the DIFC Family Wealth Centre. The regulation is designed to address the limited sophistication that other sources have highlighted is lacking in the region.

The growth of family offices in Dubai comes as wealthy individuals and families leave London.

The U.K. recently removed non-dom status, which allowed individuals with overseas ties to avoid paying U.K. tax on foreign income, and has increased taxes on carried interest to 34.1 percent, effective in April.

Among others, shipping magnate John Fredriksen and BlueCrest founder Michael Platt have both relocated to Dubai from the U.K.