A rising number of US family offices are shifting their focus to Abu Dhabi, driven by strong diplomatic ties and ambitious investment initiatives.
This trend follows a recent visit by US President Donald Trump to the UAE, where he met with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to discuss enhanced cooperation in sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, energy, and advanced manufacturing.
Momentum from US-UAE cooperation
Trump’s visit further strengthens the momentum generated by the UAE’s $1.4 trillion investment strategy, launched in March 2025, which targets US industries over the next decade.
This unprecedented capital commitment has attracted significant interest from ultra-high-net-worth individuals and family offices in the US, many of whom now see Abu Dhabi as an important gateway for long-term cross-border investments.
Family offices grow in Abu Dhabi
Well-known figures such as Leon Black and Ray Dalio have already established family offices in Abu Dhabi, taking advantage of the city’s growing prominence as a global hub for finance and innovation.
Family offices in the UAE are evolving, with many transforming from traditional structures into powerful investment platforms that collaborate with the public sector to drive growth in key areas such as infrastructure, sustainability, and emerging technologies.
Family office summit bridges East-West investment
One platform facilitating this growing interest is the Family Office Summit, which has gained significant traction since its launch in Abu Dhabi in 2023. The summit’s December 2024 edition saw early participation from US family offices, including a keynote from Dillon Lawson-Johnson, a next-generation member of the Guggenheim family.
During his visit to the UAE, Lawson-Johnson expressed his interest in Abu Dhabi as a strategic base for expanding his family’s global business interests and highlighted their ongoing museum construction in the city.
The next Family Office Summit, scheduled for May 29, 2025, will focus on the differences between family holdings and family offices, two distinct structures with complementary roles. The summit will also explore cross-border investment strategies and collaborative wealth platforms.
Global trends
Obediah Ayton, Chairman of the Family Office Summit, explained: “Family holdings are common in the UAE, typically comprising multiple operating companies across diverse sectors. However, they often lack the flexibility of a modern family office, which is structured around long-term capital preservation, diversification, and alternative asset strategies. The US model has evolved significantly in this space—something the UAE can learn from as it modernizes its approach to wealth stewardship.”
With Abu Dhabi solidifying its position as a leading destination for global wealth management, the Family Office Summit continues to provide a unique platform for international families to connect, collaborate, and co-invest.
As the UAE deepens its investment ties with the US, events like this are becoming crucial in bridging the gap between Eastern and Western wealth management strategies.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
