A New Chapter: Nearly Half of UAE Residents Now Plan for Long-Term Retirement in the Country

Recent research highlights a shifting trend among affluent individuals in the UAE, with nearly half now expecting to spend their retirement years in the country.

According to the Money on the Move study published by wealth management firm St James's Place—which surveyed 450 affluent and high-net-worth residents across the UAE in May 2026—44 per cent intend to retire locally. Furthermore, over half noted they have already stayed longer than initially planned, and 78 per cent anticipate remaining overseas for at least another eight years.

"The UAE has become somewhere people can genuinely see themselves building a life, rather than somewhere they come for a few years to advance their career," stated Daniel George, head of business at St James's Place Middle East. He added that individuals arrive for career prospects, accumulate wealth, and increasingly discover fewer reasons to depart.

Substantial financial incentives play a role, with 96 per cent of respondents indicating they earn more in the UAE than in comparable home roles, and 97 per cent saving more each month. Nearly half report earning and saving at least 25 per cent more, while two in three feel living abroad accelerates their path to financial freedom by a minimum of five years.

For Justin Cooke, a British entrepreneur who relocated to Abu Dhabi with his family in 2024, transitioning from a temporary resident to a long-term member of the community occurred swiftly. Alongside his wife, he has developed businesses spanning travel and hospitality media, sport, education, and technology, while their children engage in local schools and sporting activities. "People are putting down roots. They are building businesses, educating their children here, buying homes and increasingly imagining the next 20 or 30 years of their lives here too," Mr Cooke remarked. He noted that even his 75-year-old father lives in Dubai, and retirement in the region now feels entirely plausible, driven less by tax considerations and more by freedom, infrastructure, and opportunity.

For others, the decision is already definitive. Sarah Louise, an Australian entrepreneur based in Dubai with her French husband, explained that international business connectivity means traditional concepts of returning to a home town no longer apply. "When your life and your network and your infrastructure are all in one place, retirement for us becomes more about the continuity of our lives we have built," she said.

The study also identified a divergence between wealth segments, noting that mass affluent expats were 2.7 times more likely than high-net-worth counterparts to view the UAE as a permanent home. Joshua Oliver, an adviser for high-net-worth individuals who relocated to Dubai from London this year, observed that client attitudes are evolving. "The perception of retiring in the UAE is changing. Historically, many expats assumed they would eventually return to their home country, whereas now I hear more conversations about remaining here permanently or at least making the UAE their primary base in retirement," he noted.

Despite 92 per cent of respondents expressing concern over regional geopolitical instability and 46 per cent labeling it a major issue, seven in 10 stated their perception of the area as a place to live has improved over the past year. According to Mr George, while such factors shape short-term sentiment, the underlying drivers for long-term residency remain robust.

With 70 per cent believing the UAE helps them retire at least three years earlier, St James's Place emphasizes the importance of early financial planning. Eighty-nine per cent of participants noted that superior financial advice earlier in their time abroad would have enhanced savings and investment results.

Mr Oliver advises newcomers to focus on building a genuine life rather than relocating solely for financial reasons. "Spend time understanding the different communities, where you want to live, how you want your day-to-day life to look and where your professional and social network will come from," he concluded.