As India’s high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) and family offices look for global platforms to manage, preserve, and grow their wealth, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is emerging as a top choice. Zero taxes, investor-friendly policies, and seamless global fund access have turned the DIFC into a financial gateway for Indian capital.
By the end of 2024, the UAE was home to over 130,000 millionaires, including 325 centi-millionaires and 28 billionaires, according to data from Henley & Partners and New World Wealth.
DIFC alone manages $450 billion in private assets, while Abu Dhabi’s ADGM is another fast-growing financial hub, hosting hundreds of global funds and wealth managers.
The UAE is expected to attract over 9,800 new millionaires in 2025, making it the world’s leading millionaire migration destination, surpassing even the US.
What is DIFC?
Established in 2004, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is now one of the world’s top 10 onshore financial hubs. It offers a unique business environment built on an English-language Common Law framework, independent courts, and its own regulator—the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA).
But DIFC isn’t just a place to do business—it’s a vibrant lifestyle destination, home to restaurants, art galleries, green public spaces, hotels, and even residential apartments.
Why Are Indian Investors Choosing DIFC?
The numbers speak for themselves. India now ranks no. 2 for new fund registrations in DIFC, according to official data.
Key reasons driving this surge:
- 100% foreign ownership
- No personal or corporate income tax
- Access to the $7.4 trillion MEASA market (Middle East, Africa, South Asia)
- Gateway positioning between London and Mumbai/Shanghai
Many Indian firms use DIFC as a launchpad for regional expansion and long-term capital preservation.
Indian-owned businesses now represent the largest foreign business community in Dubai, topping the list of new non-Emirati companies joining the Dubai Chamber of Commerce in Q1 2025.
4,543 new Indian firms registered in just three months this year, showing 4.4% year-on-year growth. Pakistan followed in second place with 2,154 new companies, followed by Egypt, according to reports.
Between the $63 billion in expected incoming wealth, the boom in Indian business registrations, and record real estate investments, DIFC is not just a financial zone anymore—it’s a magnet for global wealth migration, driven heavily by South Asian entrepreneurs and investors.
For many, it’s more than just a place to manage money. It’s becoming a lifestyle choice—blending luxury, tax efficiency, global connectivity, and ease of doing business.