Asia Wealthy Families Pivot to Dubai as Family Offices Modernise

Dubai family offices are increasingly becoming a base for Asia’s wealthy families as family offices modernise their strategies, speakers said at the Family Office Summit.

Organisers said the ecosystem now manages over USD1.2tr, as families push to separate legacy operating businesses from investment capital and professionalise decisions.

Speakers said priorities are shifting from preservation to modernisation, with greater focus on AI, governance and new asset classes, including digital assets.

Cordell Partners’ Oscar Orellana-Hyder said new entrants from Asia and Europe are tightening a shallow talent pool, while Yolo Investments founder Tim Heath pointed to stablecoins and AI-enabled workflows as inevitable tools.

The event hosted more than 250 attendees, including 81 family offices.