
UAE’s Net Wealth Reached USD 2.9 Trillion in 2023, Reveals BCG Global Wealth Report
- UAE’s monetary wealth grew by 10% from 2022 to 2023
- The UAE continues to expertise spectacular progress and is on observe to develop into the sixth-largest reserving middle on the planet by 2028, with an annual progress price of about 8.9%
- BCG’s twenty fourth Annual Global Wealth Report highlights Generative AI as an enabler for operational efficiencies and improved consumer expertise
Boston Consulting Group’s (BCG) annual world wealth report, Global Wealth Report 2024: The GenAI Era Unfolds revealed that the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) web wealth reached USD 2.9 trillion in 2023. The UAE’s monetary wealth grew by 10% from 2022 to 2023, versus the Middle East and Africa’s 8%. Global monetary wealth rose at 7%, following a decline of 4% in 2022. Over the following 5 years, an estimated USD 92 trillion of economic wealth will likely be created globally.
UAE’s Ascent as a Global Booking Center
Cross-border wealth grew globally by 5.1% in 2023, reaching USD 13 trillion, a 1 proportion level improve over the 12 months earlier than. In this evolving panorama, the UAE has emerged as a standout performer. Currently the world’s seventh-largest reserving middle, it’s poised to overhaul the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man to develop into the sixth-largest by 2028. The UAE’s progress price outpaces conventional European cross-border reserving facilities like Switzerland, the UK, and Luxembourg, competing with Singapore and the US.
This shift displays an rising demand for geographic diversification and the surge in wealth technology throughout Middle Eastern and Asian markets. While Switzerland is predicted to keep up its place as a number one reserving middle, capturing 15% to twenty% of world new cross-border wealth by 2028, it would face fierce competitors for the highest spot, with the UAE as a formidable contender.
“The UAE may become the sixth-largest global booking center by 2028. This potential ascent highlights the UAE’s growing importance in the international wealth management landscape and its appeal to high-net-worth individuals seeking diverse financial opportunities,” stated Lukasz Rey, Managing Director & Partner, and Head of Financial Institutions within the Middle East. “This projection reflects broader trends in geographic diversification and wealth generation across markets. As the cross-border wealth landscape evolves globally, we anticipate shifts in the relative positions of various booking centers.”
UAE Financial Wealth Surges
The outlook for the UAE’s monetary wealth seems promising. Financial wealth elevated by 7.6% yearly from 2018 to 2023, reaching USD 1 trillion in 2023. Projections recommend that this progress will proceed at an annual price of seven.3%, reaching USD 1.5 trillion by 2028. Real belongings have achieved dynamic progress by 9.1% yearly from 2018 to 2023 and are anticipated to develop at 8.5% yearly to succeed in USD 3.1 trillion by 2028. Liabilities have remained roughly nonetheless at USD 180 billion and are projected to remain in the identical vary, reaching USD 240 billion by 2028. The UAE’s web wealth, which incorporates monetary wealth, actual belongings, and liabilities, is predicted to extend from USD 2.9 trillion in 2023 to USD 4.4 trillion by 2028.
The monetary wealth panorama of the UAE is characterised by a major focus of Ultra High Net Worth (UHNW) people. Individuals with belongings exceeding USD 100 million make up 29% of the UAE’s complete monetary wealth, greater than double the worldwide common of 14% for a similar wealth section. This substantial share held by UHNW people within the UAE exceeds the worldwide determine and the broader Middle East & Africa area’s 23%. It underscores the UAE’s rising prominence as a hub for high-net-worth people.
The Future of Wealth Management
“In the UAE market, where 81% of financial wealth is investable—a number expected to climb to 83% by 2028—wealth managers are staring at a massive opportunity,” Mohammad Khan, Managing Director & Partner at BCG, defined. “Given that 41% of onshore assets are in cash, there’s a clear need for wealth players to provide tailored solutions and target underserved segments. This includes providing customers with access to integrated offerings such as advisory, lending products, and alternative investments catering to customers’ holistic needs. We will also see a greater focus by leading players in the GCC to position themselves with younger customers through greater use of digital platforms and a differentiated customer engagement model as wealth is transitioned to the next generation.”
GenAI is ready to considerably change the wealth administration trade, providing methods to enhance consumer expertise and improve effectivity throughout the worth chain. The know-how exhibits potential in consumer acquisition, onboarding, servicing, and inner help. GenAI functions can help in creating personalised pitch paperwork, rushing up know-your-customer (KYC) processes, offering on the spot consumer help by chatbots, and enhancing transaction monitoring by lowering false positives.
Despite the potential advantages, many wealth managers are nonetheless within the early phases of GenAI adoption. While 85% of surveyed monetary establishments imagine GenAI will likely be extremely impactful, 82% lack an overarching, long-term GenAI technique and short-term implementation roadmaps.