Affluent Emirati investors are outpacing the world in digital asset ownership, even as wealth managers struggle to keep up with technology. A new Avaloq Wealth Insights report found that 39% of high-income UAE investors now hold crypto, compared with 30% globally.
The report analyzed investor behavior and wealth-management practices across 15 markets, based on surveys of 3,851 stakeholders and 456 wealth professionals, conducted in February-March 2025.
The data found that only 20% of Emirati investors who hold crypto manage those
positions through their traditional financial services providers, while 51% say they’d invest if their institution offered, hinting at a clear opportunity for banks and wealth managers to integrate digital assets in their offerings.
Dubai’s clear regulations, active policy support, and frequent web3 events are fueling the UAE’s push to become a leading global digital asset hub, with innovation programs in free zones like DIFC driving the momentum, the survey found.
Lack of adoption among other Emirati investors
Market volatility (38%), lack of knowledge (36%), and distrust in exchanges (32%) remain the top barriers to adoption. Together, these figures suggest investors are more concerned about understanding and security than regulation itself.
Avaloq said this knowledge gap creates an opportunity for wealth managers to guide clients on integrating crypto safely, in line with their risk tolerance and growth goals.
Many financiers who trade in crypto have also reported uncertainty. More than six in ten have either switched advisers in the past or are considering doing so, citing reasons such as high costs, noted by 51%, and lack of transparency, mentioned by 45%.
The survey emphasized that maintaining investor confidence requires streamlining operations to boost efficiency, improving communication speed, and offering personalized services at scale.
The UAE is forecast to attract 142,000 new millionaires in 2025 and 165,000 in 2026, according to Henley’s Private Wealth Migration Report. This reinforces the strategic importance for local wealth managers to scale and deliver integrated traditional and digital investment solutions.