The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has signed an agreement with Julius Baer (Middle East) Ltd. aimed at channelling the Swiss wealth manager’s international client base toward establishing and expanding operations in the emirate.
Julius Baer operates across more than 25 countries and 60 locations globally. The firm reported assets under management of 547 billion Swiss francs at the end of June 2026, and has maintained a presence in Dubai for over two decades.
Under the agreement, DET and Julius Baer will work to convert private client interest in Dubai into concrete investment and establishment outcomes, targeting international investors, business owners, family offices, and ultra-high-net-worth individuals.
“Dubai’s sustained growth as a global hub for wealth, and investment reflects 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. Our partnership with Julius Baer strengthens our ability to convert strategic interest into structured establishment and investment outcomes. Even amid shifting global conditions, the city continues to demonstrate resilience, transparency, and strong institutional delivery. 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,” Hadi Badri, CEO of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation (DEDC), the economic development arm of DET said in a statement.
“Dubai has earned its place as one of the world’s leading hubs for wealth management, and that is a view Julius Baer has held, and acted on, for more than two decades. Our long-standing presence here gives us a depth of market knowledge that allows us to respond confidently to clients when they are assessing where to base their wealth, their businesses, and their families. We are seeing sustained and growing interest in Dubai across our global client base, and 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. 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,” Rahul Malhotra, Head of Region Emerging Markets, Julius Baer added.
The deal lands against a backdrop of rapid expansion in Dubai’s private wealth infrastructure. According to DIFC figures, the Centre was home to 1,289 family-related entities as of year-end 2025, up 61 per cent year-on-year, while DIFC-based families had established 1,115 foundations, a 66 per cent annual increase.
Dubai has also been ranked the world’s top destination for Greenfield FDI projects for five consecutive years and recorded GDP growth of 5.4 per cent in 2025.
The partnership is framed as part of the broader Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which sets out targets for doubling the size of Dubai’s economy over the next decade.
