Saudi Arabia has largest ultra high net worth population in region: Study

Saudi Arabia and the UAE jointly account for over 45 percent of the UHNW (ultra high net worth) population in the Middle East, a new Wealth-X study has found.
The wealth-intelligence organization defines UHNW individuals as those with $30 million and above in net assets.
Saudi Arabia has the largest UHNW population (1,495 ultra wealthy individuals) and UHNW wealth ($320 billion) in the region, followed by the UAE, according to the report.
In the UAE, there are 1,275 such individuals, worth a combined $255 billion, representing 20 percent of the total ultra wealthy population in the Middle East.
The UAE is ranked 22nd in Wealth-X’s global ranking of UHNW population by country, behind Saudi Arabia (17) but ahead of Kuwait (32).
Nearly 1,000 ultra high net worth (UHNW) individuals are based in UAE capital Abu Dhabi (450 individuals) and Dubai (495).
The report said that Saudi Arabia’s more dispersed economic growth has resulted in a split of its UHNW population across. a few of its key hubs.
All of these main hubs have experienced faster growth in UHNW population than their respective country’s average. This concentration exemplifies how vital infrastructure is in facilitating the growth of both fortunes and opportunities. As such, clusters continue to dominate, and we expect these cities’ existing pull of international resources to become stronger, said the report.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE jointly account for over 45% of the region’s UHNW population, and both of these countries experienced fast growth in UHNW population and wealth.
The only country in the region to experience an overall decline in its UHNW population and wealth this year was Kuwait, due to the slow GDP growth and a declining equity market in the country. In Saudi Arabia or UAE, the UHNW populations control more than half their respective countries’ total wealth.
There are 1,275 ultra wealthy individuals in the UAE, representing 20 percent of the total ultra wealthy population in the Middle East, Wealth-X research shows.
The combined wealth of the UAE’s ultra high net worth population stands at $255 billion.
 The study also reveals that 57 percent of the UAE’s UHNW population amassed their fortune through entrepreneurship.
Only 8 percent fully inherited their fortune; and 35 percent partially inherited and grew their wealth.
 
Below are other key findings from the study:
 
• Nearly 1,000 UHNW individuals are based in Abu Dhabi (450 individuals) and Dubai (495).
• Saudi Arabia and the UAE jointly account for over 45 percent of the UHNW population in the Middle East.
• Only 3 percent of the UAE’s UHNW population made its wealth through oil, gas and consumable fuels.
• The most significant source of wealth for the UAE’s UNHW population is industrial conglomerates, at more than 20 percent.
• The UAE is ranked 22nd in Wealth-X’s global ranking of UHNW population by country, behind Saudi Arabia (17) but ahead of Kuwait (32).
There are nearly 6,000 UHNW individuals in the Middle East with a combined net worth of $995 billion.
David Awit, Wealth-X director for Middle East, said: “Despite the UAE equity market suffering declines of nearly 20 percent in the last year, our study shows that UHNW individuals in the country have defied this economic backdrop to record further increases in their fortunes in 2015, highlighting the ability of the world’s wealthiest individuals to continue to create new wealth.”