HNWIs reshaping global investment priorities amid ‘structural shift’ in landscape

High net worth individuals (HNWI) are reshaping investment priorities as the global wealth landscape undergoes a structural shift, a report from Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC) has stated.

Its Global Wealth Outlook report explored how global wealth was being shaped by volatility, demographic change, and shifting capital flows.

DIFC identified a structural realignment in global wealth management, with market volatility, geoeconomic uncertainty, and increasingly uneven investment options leading to HNWIs and families rethinking how and where capital is deployed.

Geography was increasingly seen as a portfolio consideration alongside asset allocation, with jurisdictional risk becoming a defining factor in long-term wealth preservation.

The next generation of wealth holders were looking for multi-dimensional gains, including resilience against volatility, portfolio flexibility, financial gains, environmental and social impact, and family reputation.

With younger successors assuming greater influence, investment strategies were found to be evolving towards private markets, artificial intelligence (AI), sustainability, and impact, alongside traditional return targets.

Wealth advisers were urged to blend financial expertise, tech fluency, and strong relationships to support families with managing and adapting their wealth across generations.

The report also highlighted the accelerated professionalisation of family offices and wealth managers as clients sought deeper private market access, AI-enabled analytics, and more sophisticated governance and advisory capabilities.

“The global wealth landscape is undergoing a structural shift,” commented DIFC Authority chief executive officer, Arif Amiri.

“In an environment of volatility, regulatory divergence and generational change families are thinking about risk, resilience and long-term growth.

“Increasingly, geographical allocation is becoming as important as how wealth is invested. Dubai, and in particular DIFC, has anticipated this shift and offers a stable and globally connected environment with regulatory clarity in which families and private investors can make long-term decisions with confidence.”

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