Today's Edition
A. SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)
The UAE hosted 59 billionaires whose combined wealth reached $201 billion at the end of 2025, according to the Billionaire Census 2026 released by Altrata. The number of UAE billionaires rose 11.3% from 2024.
Altrata, a global wealth intelligence company specialising in affluent market dynamics, published the 13th edition of the report, which examines the global billionaire population and the evolving landscape of ultra-wealth creation.
UAE billionaires accounted for about 1.6% of the worldwide total of 3,795 individuals. Their $201 billion in wealth represented roughly 1.3% of the global billionaire wealth of $15.1 trillion.
The UAE ranked 14th among countries by billionaire population.
The United States led with 1,265 billionaires and $6.69 trillion in combined wealth. China followed with 363 billionaires and $1.44 trillion, Germany with 221 and $806 billion, Russia with 151 and $549 billion, and India with 132 and $454 billion.
Other leading countries included the UK with 128 billionaires, Switzerland with 122, Hong Kong with 106 and Singapore with 75.
Among the leading billionaire cities, Dubai shared eighth place with Shenzhen, with 43 billionaires after adding two in 2025.
New York remained first with 164, up 12, followed by Hong Kong with 106, down two; San Francisco with 99, up nine; London with 79, down one; and Singapore with 75, up 12.
The global billionaire population reached an all-time high of 3,795 in 2025, growing 8.2%—the strongest annual increase in five years—and expanding by almost 60% over the past decade.
Total wealth climbed 12.8% to a record $15.1 trillion.
The AI investment boom was a major driver. Among the 150 listed companies contributing most to billionaire wealth, those that made meaningful investments in AI recorded 23% stronger market-capitalisation growth over 2024-25 than those that did not. The 29 “superbillionaires”, each worth more than $50 billion, controlled $4.1 trillion, or 27% of all billionaire wealth.
The average billionaire is 71 years old, with only about 9% under 50 and almost half over 70. Men make up 86.9% of the group and women 13.1%.
Banking and finance is the leading primary industry, accounting for almost 20%, followed by business and consumer services, industrial conglomerates, technology and real estate.
Sport and philanthropy are the most popular interests. About 15% of billionaires own a private jet—almost three times the proportion owning a luxury yacht—while the average billionaire directly owns more than 3.5 residential properties.
Roughly one in five billionaires is foreign-born, with the proportion reaching almost 60% in London and 41% in San Francisco.
About 73% of the average billionaire portfolio comprises stakes in listed or privately owned companies, while liquid assets account for about a quarter. Real estate and luxury assets together represent less than 2%.
More than 200 billionaires hold a direct stake in a sports team or franchise, reflecting what the report described as a shift from primarily passion-driven ownership towards a more strategic portfolio allocation.
