Dubai: Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has signed a strategic agreement with Swiss wealth manager Julius Baer (Middle East) Ltd. to support growing interest among international investors, business owners, family offices and private clients seeking to establish and expand their presence in Dubai.The agreement aims to leverage Julius Baer’s global network to create structured pathways for family offices, entrepreneurs and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, reinforcing Dubai’s position as one of the world’s leading destinations for private wealth and long-term capital deployment in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33.Strengthening Dubai’s global wealth offeringHis Excellency Hadi Badri, CEO of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation (DEDC), the economic development arm of DET, said Dubai’s continued growth as a global wealth and investment hub is driven by visionary leadership, policy stability and long-term economic planning.“As international investors, business owners, family offices and private clients seek certainty, connectivity and credibility, Dubai offers a platform that combines regulatory clarity with global access,” he said.“Our partnership with Julius Baer strengthens our ability to convert strategic interest into structured establishment and investment outcomes. We remain focused on enabling responsible capital formation, supporting family offices, business owners and long-term investment activity, and reinforcing Dubai’s position as a trusted base for international wealth and business growth in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33.”Growing international interestRahul Malhotra, Head of Region Emerging Markets at Julius Baer, said Dubai has established itself as one of the world’s leading wealth management centres.“We are seeing sustained and growing interest in Dubai across our global client base. While the current regional and international geopolitical environment has introduced an element of complexity for international investors, it has also reinforced Dubai’s position as a destination that offers stability, institutional credibility and a clear long-term economic direction,” he said.“Our structural confidence in this market has not wavered, and this partnership with DET is a natural extension of the commitment Julius Baer has demonstrated here from the very beginning.”Julius Baer operates in more than 25 countries and 60 locations worldwide and reported assets under management of CHF547 billion at the end of June 2026.Expanding wealth ecosystemDubai’s private wealth ecosystem continues to grow rapidly. According to the latest Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) figures, the centre hosted 1,289 family-related entities at the end of 2025, a 61% year-on-year increase, while the number of foundations established by DIFC-based families rose 66% to 1,115.The growth has been supported by Dubai’s broader economic performance, including its ranking as the world’s leading destination for Greenfield foreign direct investment projects for five consecutive years and GDP growth of 5.4% in 2025.Through the new partnership, DET aims to strengthen channels that help international investors, family offices and private clients better understand Dubai’s economic vision, engage with its investment ecosystem and assess the emirate as a long-term base for wealth, business and future growth.
