UBS Billionaire Ambitions Report 2025 reveals record global wealth growth, with UAE and Saudi Arabia leading a historic intergenerational transfer.
DUBAI: UBS has released its 11th Billionaire Ambitions Report, offering a comprehensive snapshot of global wealth creation in 2025. The report shows billionaire wealth worldwide has reached an all-time high of USD 15.8 trillion, driven by a new generation of self-made innovators and the largest intergenerational wealth transfer in modern financial history.
One of the key highlights of the UBS report is the strong regional momentum in the Middle East. Billionaire wealth in the United Arab Emirates rose to USD 169 billion, while Saudi Arabia recorded a dramatic jump to USD 81 billion. According to UBS, heirs in these markets are expected to inherit around USD 153 billion over the next 15 years, placing the UAE and Saudi Arabia at the centre of global wealth transfer trends.
Benjamin Cavalli, Head of Strategic Clients & Global Connectivity at UBS Global Wealth Management, noted a changing mindset: “The focus is shifting from preserving wealth to empowering the next generation to succeed independently. Families are thinking globally and acting with responsibility.”
Globally, 196 self-made billionaires contributed USD 386.5 billion to the overall increase, making this one of the strongest years for entrepreneurial wealth growth. The total number of billionaires rose by 8.8%, with Asia-Pacific and the US dominating new additions. Industrial sectors saw the fastest wealth expansion, followed by financial services and technology.
A historic USD 297.8 billion was inherited in 2025 by 91 heirs, as multi-generational billionaire families expanded their influence. There are now 860 such families managing USD 4.7 trillion in assets. The report also highlighted the continued rise of female billionaires, whose average wealth grew by 8.4%, outpacing men for the fourth consecutive year.
UBS’s findings also reveal that 36% of billionaires have relocated at least once, driven by factors including quality of life, geopolitical stability, and tax planning. Investment priorities are shifting too — with North America, Western Europe, and Greater China remaining top regions for portfolio expansion. Private equity, infrastructure, and hedge funds are seeing increased interest, especially amid geopolitical concerns.
With nearly USD 6.9 trillion set to change hands by 2040, the report confirms that wealth managers, families, and policymakers must prepare for a new global reality — where youth, legacy, values, and innovation converge to shape the billionaire class of tomorrow.
To view the full UBS report, visit: https://www.ubs.com/global/en/media/display-page-ndp/en-2025-billionaire-ambitions.html
