Amazing UAE Wealth Survey Reveals Why Nearly Half of Expats Plan to Retire Here

DUBAI and ABU DHABI are home to growing plans for long-term stays, as a new survey shows that nearly half of wealthy expats want to retire in the Emirates.

Here are the key points from the new survey:

• 44 percent of affluent UAE residents plan to retire in the Emirates.
• 78 percent of participants expect to stay in the country for at least eight more years.
• 96 percent of expats state they earn more in the UAE than in their home countries.
• 97 percent report higher monthly savings, with half saving at least 25 percent more.
• Delaying professional financial advice costs UAE expats an estimated $9,248 for every year spent abroad.

Survey Results on Retirement and Savings

DUBAI and ABU DHABI — 11 September 2026. A new Money on the Move survey by St James’s Place, which polled 450 affluent and high-net-worth UAE residents in May 2026, reveals that 44% of respondents intend to retire in the UAE. Despite regional instability, 78% of participants expect to remain in the country for at least another eight years, with more than half noting they have already stayed longer than originally planned.

Financial incentives remain a primary driver for the residency trend, as 96% of surveyed expats state they earn more in the UAE than in comparable roles in their home countries. Additionally, 97% report higher monthly savings, with nearly 50% saving at least 25% more than they would elsewhere. Two in three expats indicated that living abroad has accelerated their journey toward financial freedom by at least five years.

Financial Advice and Regional Recovery

A separate finding from the same survey, published in Arabian Business on 9 September 2026, highlights that delaying professional financial advice costs UAE expats an estimated $9,248 (AED 33,963) for every year spent abroad, with the average missed financial opportunity across a typical tenure estimated at $56,410.

This shift in long-term residency is attributed to the UAE's Golden Visa program, retirement visas, and high-quality infrastructure. While hiring and visa medicals in Dubai dropped significantly during the Iran-related disruptions of February and March 2026, data from Smart Salem and AGBI shows a recovery to approximately 80% of pre-war levels by late June. The survey results, supported by data from The National and InterNations Expat Insider 2026, suggest that the trend toward long-term settlement persists regardless of regional volatility.