Dubai, UAE – October 28, 2025 — The UAE’s most affluent families are rapidly embracing artificial intelligence (AI) and digital assets as key pillars of their investment and wealth management strategies, according to a new study by Standard Chartered Global Private Bank.
The findings underscore the UAE’s emergence as one of the world’s most technologically progressive financial hubs — where forward-thinking family offices are integrating cutting-edge tools into their traditional governance frameworks to protect and expand generational wealth.
Digital Assets Gain Strong Traction Among UAE Families
The report, which surveyed more than 300 ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) families and advisers across global wealth centres, reveals that 71% of UAE families believe they should strategically invest in digital assets. These include cryptocurrencies, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and tokenised traditional assets — a slightly higher percentage than the 69% global average.
This confidence in digital assets aligns with the UAE’s broader push toward blockchain adoption. Recent data from the ApeX Protocol report shows that 25.3% of UAE residents now hold cryptocurrencies, marking a 210% increase in recent years. The 2025 Henley & Partners Crypto Wealth Report further ranks the UAE as the fifth most crypto-friendly nation globally, thanks to its zero-tax regime on crypto trading and staking — factors that continue to attract global investors and innovators.
AI Becomes a Trusted Partner in Wealth Decisions
Artificial intelligence is also playing a growing role in how UAE family offices manage their wealth. The survey found that 75% of respondents in the UAE trust AI tools to support financial decisions, provided that human advisers remain involved in key strategic choices. This is above the 70% global average, signaling a strong appetite for technology-assisted investing.
This enthusiasm reflects broader national adoption trends. A recent KPMG study found that 97% of UAE respondents have used AI for work, education, or personal purposes — significantly higher than the global average of 83%. The UAE’s proactive national AI strategy, coupled with a digitally literate population, has created fertile ground for integrating AI into wealth management, risk assessment, and investment forecasting.
Balancing Innovation with Strong Governance
While embracing innovation, UAE family offices are not abandoning traditional principles of governance. Standard Chartered’s research highlights that 96% of UAE family offices regularly review and optimise their governance frameworks, slightly ahead of the 94% global average. Similarly, 96% report having formal conflict-resolution processes, demonstrating a mature approach to managing family and business dynamics.
This balance between innovation and structure illustrates a hallmark of UAE family enterprises: combining modern investment strategies with disciplined oversight, ensuring that technology serves the family’s long-term mission rather than short-term speculation.
The Rise of the Next Generation
A clear generational shift is also underway. The study found that 67% of UAE family offices report active involvement of the next generation in investment decision-making — a sign that digital-native heirs are taking on leadership roles earlier and shaping portfolios around technology, sustainability, and global diversification.
These successors are driving a shift from traditional asset classes to emerging sectors like fintech, AI, clean energy, and Web3 infrastructure, signaling a future where digital-first thinking is central to multigenerational wealth planning.
Philanthropy and Global Vision
Beyond financial growth, UAE family offices are increasingly aligning wealth with purpose. The survey shows that 88% of UAE respondents prefer to contribute to national or international philanthropic causes, compared with 80% globally. Even more striking, 92% of UAE families report full family alignment on philanthropic priorities, versus 83% worldwide.
This strong commitment to philanthropy mirrors the UAE’s broader culture of social responsibility and nation-building — where family offices view wealth as both a privilege and a platform for global impact.
Preparing for the Future of Succession
When it comes to succession planning, 92% of UAE family offices believe that better cross-border structuring could save millions during inheritance transitions, compared with 83% globally. This reflects a growing awareness among the region’s wealthy families about the complexities of managing multi-jurisdictional wealth, especially as assets become more digital and globally distributed.
Standard Chartered notes that more UAE families are establishing family offices with international footprints, combining local governance with global asset mobility — a trend expected to accelerate in the coming years.
A Vision of Tech-Driven, Sustainable Wealth
Commenting on the findings, Vinay Gandhi, Regional Head for EMEA and Global Head of South Asian Community at Standard Chartered, said:
“Family offices in the UAE are embracing technology in a way that reflects both vision and discipline. They see digital assets and AI not as speculative tools, but as integral components of a more connected, efficient, and resilient wealth ecosystem.”
As the UAE cements its role as a global innovation hub, its wealthiest families are demonstrating how technology, governance, and generational vision can combine to redefine modern wealth stewardship. Their embrace of AI and crypto is not just about returns — it’s about resilience, legacy, and staying ahead in an increasingly digital financial world.
