Dubai and Abu Dhabi Among Top Five Cities for High-Net-Worth Individuals in 2025 । Flightnews24

What’s Happening:

According to the newly released "Spotlight on Wealth Trends 2025" report by real estate company Savills, Dubai ranks first, while Abu Dhabi follows closely in fifth place. The report, which analyzes nearly 100 global cities, evaluates them across five key criteria: business environment, family infrastructure, legacy planning, lifestyle, and privacy.

New York, Singapore, and Hong Kong claimed the second to fourth spots, while Monaco, Los Angeles, Miami, Aspen (Colorado), and London round out the top ten. These findings demonstrate how Dubai and Abu Dhabi have become top choices for multimillionaires, offering not only lucrative business opportunities but also a high standard of living and favorable tax conditions.

UAE’s Strong Appeal for the Affluent:

Dubai's leadership in the rankings is fueled by its excellent infrastructure and lifestyle appeal. It boasts the highest number of international schools, with 168 in total, and ranks in the top 10 for lifestyle, thanks to its blend of luxury retail, hospitality, and cultural offerings. Furthermore, Dubai ranks among the top five cities globally for legacy planning, offering a tax-friendly environment with no income, inheritance, capital gains, or wealth taxes.

Abu Dhabi has earned accolades for its economic competitiveness, strong connectivity, and its growing share of corporate and sovereign wealth investment, making it an attractive destination for investors and wealthy individuals alike.

Why It Matters:

The rankings highlight a shift in the preferences of the world’s wealthiest individuals, who are increasingly opting for destinations like Dubai and Abu Dhabi over traditional financial hubs such as Hong Kong, London, and New York. As Kelcie Sellers, associate director at Savills World Research, notes in the report, the UAE cities are now seen not only as investment opportunities but also as long-term homes, offering a balanced combination of business, lifestyle, well-being, and family appeal.

The UAE government has introduced several initiatives to attract HNWIs, including residency programs, tax incentives, cutting-edge infrastructure, and diverse investment opportunities. Notably, the "Golden Visa" program, introduced in 2019, offers long-term residency for those who invest 2 million AED ($540,000), and economic free zones in Dubai and Abu Dhabi allow for 100% foreign ownership, offering tax exemptions and streamlined business regulations.

Global Perspective on HNWIs in Dubai and Abu Dhabi:

The number of HNWIs living in Dubai has surged over the past decade, according to the World’s Wealthiest Cities Report 2025 by New World Wealth for Henley & Partners. The report reveals that Dubai is home to 81,200 millionaires, 237 centimillionaires (those with wealth in the hundreds of millions), and 20 billionaires as of 2024, a significant increase from the previous year.

Additionally, since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Dubai has attracted a growing number of wealthy Russians, drawn by the UAE’s neutral stance, favorable tax policies, and its thriving business environment. In contrast, traditional wealth hubs like London are seeing a significant outflow of millionaires. In 2025, Britain is expected to lose a record 16,500 millionaires, with many of them seeking refuge in the UAE.

Travelling alone offers more than the chance to explore new places. It allows individuals to make independent choices, spend time with themselves and gain personal insight through new experiences. However, alongside that freedom comes the need to prioritise personal safety. Understanding a country’s security environment before planning a trip is therefore essential.

While solo travel can be peaceful and empowering, poor preparation can expose travellers to unnecessary risks. Reviewing global safety rankings can help travellers make informed decisions.

How the rankings were determined

The study was conducted by Squaremouth, one of the largest online travel insurance marketplaces in the United States. Researchers initially compiled a list of 113 countries based on the United Nations Human Development Index, which evaluates overall national progress using indicators such as education, income and quality of life.

To assess safety, the study examined several factors, including crime rates, how safe people feel walking alone at night, the quality of healthcare, rankings in the Global Peace Index and other social and security-related indicators. Each factor was scored on a scale from zero to ten, with the overall average determining a country’s position. Lower scores indicate higher safety, while higher scores point to greater risk.

Researchers note that such rankings provide a general overview only. Conditions can change rapidly due to natural disasters, political instability or conflict. Additionally, a country considered safe overall may not offer the same level of security for women or minority groups.

Safest country for solo travel

San Marino, a small landlocked republic in southern Europe and widely regarded as the world’s oldest republic, ranks as the safest destination for solo travellers. Surrounded by Italy, the mountainous country records an exceptionally low score of 0.78 out of 10.

Its strong safety profile is attributed to high-quality healthcare, minimal environmental risks and a high level of personal security. Nearly 90% of residents report feeling safe walking alone at night.

Other highly safe destinations

In addition to San Marino, nine other countries are considered particularly safe for solo travel. These include:

Andorra
Singapore
Austria
Czech Republic
Qatar
Estonia
Brunei
Denmark
Slovenia

Travellers are advised to exercise caution when visiting Qatar due to ongoing tensions in parts of the Middle East.

Most dangerous countries identified

Countries are labelled “dangerous” when everyday life presents higher security risks, often linked to weak infrastructure, limited healthcare and broader safety challenges.

According to the study, Venezuela ranks as the most hazardous destination for solo travellers. It is followed by:

Peru
Gabon
Colombia
Bolivia
Jamaica
Guyana
Ecuador
Trinidad and Tobago
South Africa

Practical safety tips for solo travellers

Even in safer destinations, taking precautions can significantly reduce risks:

Share your travel itinerary with family or friends, including accommodation details.
Stay connected by ensuring your phone has data access.
Move with confidence, as uncertainty can attract opportunistic criminals.
Keep valuables such as passports, jewellery and excess cash secured, ideally in hotel lockers. Carry only essentials when going outside.
Avoid isolated or unfamiliar areas and be cautious when interacting with strangers.

Final word

Solo travel can be deeply rewarding when approached with awareness and preparation. Staying informed and alert can make the difference between a stressful trip and a safe, memorable journey.