UAE net wealth could hit $6 trillion by 2030, BCG report finds

The number of ultra-high-net-worth individuals in the UAE with more than $100 million in assets is projected to rise by 60% to approximately 800 by 2030, up from around 500 in 2025, according to new research from Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

Their share of the country’s total financial wealth is expected to edge up from 26.3% in 2025 to 26.5% by 2030.

The projections come as the UAE’s overall wealth market expands. BCG forecasts that financial wealth will increase from $1.4 trillion in 2025 to $2.1 trillion by 2030, while real assets are expected to grow from $2.4 trillion to $4.2 trillion over the same period. Taking liabilities into account, the figures point to net wealth approaching $6 trillion by the end of the forecast period.

BCG’s analysis projects growth across several wealth categories, alongside changes in their respective shares of total financial wealth.

The upper high-net-worth segment, comprising individuals with between $20 million and $100 million in assets, is expected to grow from approximately 2,700 people in 2025 to 4,200 by 2030. Its share of financial wealth is forecast to increase from 7.4% to 7.6%.

The lower high-net-worth segment, which includes individuals with between $1 million and $20 million in assets, currently comprises around 200,000 people. Its share of financial wealth is projected to rise from 29.3% in 2025 to 31.5% by 2030.

By contrast, the affluent segment, defined as individuals with assets between $250,000 and $1 million, is expected to expand from approximately 500,000 to 600,000 people, while its share of financial wealth declines from 15.5% to 14.6%.

The mass-market segment, comprising individuals with less than $250,000 in assets, is projected to grow from around 8.6 million to 9 million people. Its share of financial wealth is expected to fall from 21.5% to 19.8%.

Overall, BCG forecasts that the UAE’s financial wealth will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8.7% between 2025 and 2030. Real assets are projected to increase at an annual rate of 11.5%, reaching $4.2 trillion by 2030.

Liabilities are also expected to rise, from $220 billion in 2025 to $340 billion by 2030, following an increase from $210 billion in 2024.

The report also highlights growth in wealth held across international borders, reflecting the UAE’s position in global wealth management.

Cross-border financial wealth belonging to UAE residents but booked outside the country increased by 9.4% between 2024 and 2025, reaching $468.4 billion. The figure is expected to rise to $678.2 billion by 2030.

Meanwhile, cross-border wealth belonging to international clients and booked in the UAE reached $721 billion in 2025, marking an 11.1% year-on-year increase.

BCG expects growth across the main categories of financial assets over the next five years.

Currency and deposits, valued at $471.8 billion in 2025, are projected to reach $778.9 billion by 2030. Equities are expected to increase from $419.4 billion to $591.9 billion, while bond holdings are forecast to rise from $15.9 billion to $27.8 billion.

Life insurance and pensions are also projected to grow, increasing from $26.6 billion in 2025 to $48.4 billion by 2030.

The expansion of financial assets points to a growing market for wealth-management services as individuals and institutions manage increasingly large portfolios.

Beyond wealth growth, BCG identifies artificial intelligence as a significant factor reshaping the wealth-management industry.

According to the report, wealth managers are already using AI tools to draft financial plans, automate compliance documentation, generate portfolio explanations and predict client attrition.

Firms adopting AI-first operating models could achieve capacity gains of 25% to 30% across key workflows while increasing revenue per adviser by 15% to 20%.

“Firms that are redesigning their workflows around AI agents are creating the headroom to serve a larger client base without diluting the quality of advice. Those layering AI onto legacy processes are paying for the technology without changing their economics, and that gap widens the longer it is left,” Mohammad Khan, Managing Director and Partner at BCG, said.

BCG recommends prioritizing high-cost tasks for automation, integrating AI into financial planning, portfolio management and compliance, and developing AI agents backed by institutional expertise.