Abu Dhabi and Dubai have secured the top two positions in a new global index ranking the world’s most tax-friendly cities, according to Multipolitan’s Wealth Report 2025: The Taxed Generation.
The UAE’s capital, Abu Dhabi, was ranked first, while Dubai came in second, reinforcing the country’s growing reputation as a global hub for high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) seeking low-tax jurisdictions with stable governance and legal clarity.
Multipolitan’s flagship report introduces the inaugural Tax Friendly Cities Index, evaluating 164 jurisdictions on statutory taxation metrics, bilateral treaty coverage, and governance indicators.
The UAE’s top ranking is attributed to its zero personal income tax, relatively low property transfer costs, and regulatory stability.
“The UAE is at the forefront of a global shift in wealth preservation. Geography is becoming the ultimate strategy,” said Nirbhay Handa, CEO of Multipolitan.
The index also highlights strong regional performance, with five other Gulf cities – Manama (No 4), Doha (No 5), Kuwait City (No 8), Riyadh (No 12), and Muscat (No 17) – making the top 20.
In total, seven of the top 20 cities are located in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a region increasingly viewed as a key jurisdiction for global wealth management.
Singapore ranked third on the index, driven not by low taxes, but by fiscal prudence, treaty networks, and policy stability.
Zurich and Hong Kong also featured in the top 10.
Read: 6,700 millionaires relocated to the UAE in 2024, report reveals
Abu Dhabi and Dubai also ranked in the Wealth Preservation Cities Index and Smart & Sustainable Cities Index
“Today’s tax-friendly cities must offer more than low rates. Investors want confidence that policies are stable and that their assets are protected,” Handa said.
Alongside the tax rankings, the report features two additional indices: the Wealth Preservation Cities Index (2015–2025) and the Smart & Sustainable Cities Index (2025).
Zug, Hong Kong, and Basel lead the wealth preservation index, while Wellington, Copenhagen, and Singapore top the smart cities list.
Abu Dhabi and Dubai ranked 22nd and 24th in wealth preservation, and 23rd and 25th in smart and sustainable cities, respectively.
The report also includes commentary from global tax experts, former leaders from Big Four firms, and cross-border wealth advisors.
Topics range from the rising compliance burden and planning for American expats to the impact of artificial intelligence on tax structuring.
Multipolitan, founded in 2024 by Nirbhay Handa and Lee Smith, offers a product-driven global migration platform that supports international travel, relocation, business setup, and asset management.
Handa previously served as group head at Henley & Partners, while Smith co-founded payments unicorn Paidy, later acquired by PayPal for $2.7bn.
