The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has released a new report, Shift to Private Capital, which details the massive global trend of capital moving into private markets and highlights Dubai’s emergence as a leading global hub for private wealth, high-net-worth individuals, and family offices.
By The Numbers
- Global Private Market Forecast (2030): $30 Trillion
- Current Global Private Wealth: $471 Trillion
- Upcoming Generational Wealth Transfer: $124 Trillion
- DIFC Active Companies (H1 2025): 7,700 (+25% YoY)
The Global Trillion-Dollar Shift to Private Markets
The report outlines a fundamental rebalancing of global finance towards private markets, with assets in the sector forecast to exceed $30 trillion by 2030. This trend is fueled by investors seeking higher-yielding opportunities and a massive $124 trillion intergenerational wealth transfer set to occur over the next two decades. According to the report, younger heirs are increasingly prioritizing technology, sustainability, and impact, which is accelerating the demand for sophisticated private capital platforms and personalized wealth solutions.
DIFC at the Center of Dubai’s Growth
Dubai has successfully positioned itself as the region’s premier hub for this new era of private wealth. In 2025, the city climbed to 12th place in the prestigious Global Financial Centres Index.
The DIFC is central to this success. As of the first half of 2025, the financial centre is home to 7,700 active companies, a 25% year-on-year increase. Its thriving ecosystem now includes:
- 440+ wealth and asset managers
- 85 hedge funds
- 1,035 family-related businesses
- A strong and growing cluster of private equity and venture capital firms.
Major Validation from Global Private Equity Marketplace IPEM
Reflecting Dubai’s growing influence, the International Private Equity Market (IPEM), the world’s leading private capital marketplace, will host its first-ever Middle East preview at DIFC in December 2025. This will be followed by a landmark full edition during Dubai Future Finance Week in May 2026.
“Dubai’s alignment of long-term capital with long-term vision, combined with both its strong regulatory framework and thriving family office community, make it the natural home for IPEM’s expansion,” said Antoine Colson, CEO of IPEM.
About the Future of Finance Report
The “Future of Finance” is a flagship report series from the DIFC that explores key trends shaping the global and regional financial landscape. The latest edition, “Shift to Private Capital,” analyzes the growing dominance of private wealth and its impact on financial centers like Dubai.
Looking Ahead
The report’s findings, coupled with the major IPEM partnership, confirm that Dubai, with DIFC at its core, has become a critical node in the global flow of private capital. For the region’s startup and VC ecosystem, this deepening concentration of sophisticated family offices and private wealth managers means greater access to a growing pool of capital that is actively seeking opportunities in technology and innovation.
Source: Dubai Media Office
