At a Glance
- Dubai’s Golden Visa attracts Africa’s wealthiest seeking long-term residency and tax-free living.
- Emirates Hills and Palm Jumeirah house Africa’s richest, including billionaires and former officials.
- DIFC and ADGM empower legacy planning, offering African dynasties global financial structuring tools.
As global wealth gravitates eastward, Dubai has emerged as more than a luxury escape for Africa’s wealthiest—it’s now a command center for global mobility, wealth preservation, and legacy planning.
For high-net-worth African families, the Emirate offers not just lifestyle perks but a robust infrastructure for securing multigenerational prosperity.
From prime real estate and family offices to regional business operations, Africa’s ultra-wealthy are embedding themselves into Dubai’s economic and social fabric. The Golden Visa, premium neighborhoods, and elite services make Dubai a compelling alternative to traditional financial hubs.
From Lagos to Luanda: African dynasties find a second home in Dubai
Palm Jumeirah – Island of Prestige
The iconic man-made island is a magnet for African power players:
- Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria’s former Vice President, owns a $1.23 million unit in Palm Tower.
- Attahiru Bafarawa, ex-Governor of Sokoto, holds real estate worth $750,000.
- Isabel dos Santos, Angola’s embattled billionaire, has held property here since 2017.
- Yasseen Mansour, Egyptian billionaire, and Suleiman Shahbal, Kenyan businessman, are also linked to holdings in the area.
Emirates Hills – Dubai’s Beverly Hills
Famed for its opulent villas and ultra-private ambiance:
- Sunil Vaswani, the Indian-born Nigerian billionaire, owns a palatial estate featuring a private nightclub and casino.
- Femi Otedola, Nigerian energy mogul, maintains multiple properties.
- Priven Reddy, South African tech entrepreneur, resides here.
Jumeirah Bay Island – Billionaires’ Island
Seafront serenity meets exclusivity, drawing Africa’s richest:
- Isabel dos Santos is also linked to high-value property here.
Downtown Dubai – Command Center for the Connected
A strategic location for politically influential elites:
- Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, operates a family office managed by Halima Dangote.
- Femi Otedola maintains business and property interests.
- Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, Equatorial Guinea’s Vice President, owns a €3.6 million villa. His uncle Candido Nsue Okomo owns property worth over €14.5 million.
Golden visa: Gateway to wealth mobility and legacy security
Dubai’s Golden Visa has become a preferred residency route for African elites seeking long-term stability and global access.
Through AED 2 million ($545,000) in real estate or investment in public ventures, wealthy Africans bypass traditional sponsorship requirements.
Entrepreneurial pathways also exist for founders of high-revenue firms, offering 10-year renewable visas with full family inclusion—ideal for globally mobile dynasties.
Beyond residency: Building a legacy in the UAE
Dubai’s appeal lies in more than tax benefits or luxury. It offers:
- World-class education (Repton, GEMS Wellington)
- Private healthcare (King’s College, Mediclinic)
- Secure enclaves (Palm Jumeirah, Emirates Hills)
- Multicultural integration, ideal for families with global ambitions
Structuring wealth: DIFC and ADGM advantage
The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) provide African families with globally trusted platforms for asset protection, trust formation, succession planning, and tax optimization—all under common law. With zero inheritance, income, or capital gains taxes, Dubai becomes more than a tax haven—it becomes a strategic wealth jurisdiction.
A Springboard for global expansion
Through a discreet network of legal, financial, and advisory firms, Dubai connects African investors to global capital and expansion opportunities. Family offices, private equity forums, and free zones offer the infrastructure needed to scale African enterprises beyond the continent.
Dubai: A permanent address for Africa’s ultra-rich
For Africa’s wealthiest, relocating to Dubai is not just a lifestyle move—it’s a calculated leap into structural resilience and global relevance.
The shift is subtle but definitive: from Cape Town to Casablanca, more African dynasties are managing portfolios, philanthropic initiatives, and succession plans from the Emirates.
Dubai is no longer just a playground for the global elite—it’s their new permanent base, a financial fortress, and a center for generational wealth and influence.
