Saudi Arabia is becoming a key player in luring the wealthy as the global balance of economic power changes, especially at a time when capital flows and investment migration are undergoing drastic changes. Wealth has evolved from being a metric of individual achievement to a strategic metric used by nations to assess their desirability and capacity to offer significant investors a secure and promising environment.
With its ambitious programmes and daring reforms, Saudi Arabia is becoming a steadily stronger force in this mad dash around the world. By 2025, it will rank among the top destinations for millionaires, along with the United States and the United Arab Emirates.
The Millionaires: KSA Sets the Standard
The Henley Private Wealth Migration Report 2025 projects that by 2026, there will be 165,000 high-net-worth individuals who have left their home countries, up from over 142,000 this year. With financial elites seeking residency or citizenship that ensures them a more stable and flexible legal, tax, and investment environment, this change reflects a broader movement in the map of private money and investments.
Surprisingly, Saudi Arabia is going through a qualitative leap; 2,400 millionaires are anticipated to be welcomed this year, which is almost eight times more than the previous year. This remarkable rise is indicative of the Kingdom’s expanding role in the world economy, particularly as more Saudis return home and foreign investors choose to establish themselves in its major cities, such as Riyadh and Jeddah.
The UAE is still in the Lead, but KSA is a Fierce Rival
With 9,800 millionaires expected to arrive this year, the United Arab Emirates continues to lead the world in luring wealthy people. But Saudi Arabia is on a stunning rise thanks to an ambitious strategy that has made it a rapidly attracting hub for investors and wealth. The Economic Vision and National Transformation initiatives, which have created a favourable investment climate in the Kingdom, are especially noteworthy for this.
The United Kingdom is going through what the report calls “the largest wealth migration in its history,” with 16,500 millionaires predicted to depart this year, while Saudi Arabia is making impressive strides. In terms of losses, China comes in second, with 7,800 high-net-worth individuals predicted to depart the nation over the same time frame.
Read more: Economic Zones are a Component of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030
The Millionaires’ Migration: A Sign of a Changing Power Structure
According to the authors of the report, wealth migration is more than just a movement of people; it is a reflection of more profound economic changes that show how well nations are able to attract capital. The UK was once a popular destination for millionaires, but since 2016, it has lost its appeal to newer nations like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The majority of the wealthy, according to the report, acquire citizenship or residency through a variety of channels, including work visas, family or lineage visas, retirement plans, and second passports by birth.
However, only around 30% of these people opt for so-called “investment migration programmes,” which demand large financial outlays in return for citizenship or residency in a specific nation.
Read more: Saudi Economic Forecasts for 2025
Why are the Wealthy Drawn to Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Vision 2030, a clear strategic vision outlined by the Saudi leadership, is the reason for the Kingdom’s rise rather than chance. The foundation of this vision is the provision of world-class infrastructure, the development of an advanced investment environment, the diversification of revenue streams, and reform initiatives such as commercial legislation and tax systems.
Aside from the security and political stability that the Kingdom enjoys, this new trend, bolstered by economic and social openness, has made Saudi Arabia’s major cities an alluring destination for millionaires looking for high returns and emerging markets.
Despite having the second-highest number of wealthy expatriates after the United Arab Emirates, the United States’ model is largely dependent on the EB-5 programme for immigrant investors. This programme has generated over $50 billion in foreign investment since its inception and helped create hundreds of thousands of jobs.
This year, though, the most notable development is the introduction of the so-called “Trump Golden Visa,” a $5 million programme that former US President Donald Trump previously announced. He claims that it could draw in up to 200,000 investors and generate over $50 trillion in revenue.
Read more: Media Investment is Saudi Arabia’s Next Step
