Well-developed infrastructure, the magnificent skyline, exclusive buildings, and outstanding technology make Dubai the place to attract people with high incomes. Even from a geographical area perspective, this city is relatively small but currently has a population of 3.3 million plus some of the world’s richest people. In fact, many of the richest people in Dubai contribute significantly to its global image. Dubai has been ranked among the second-most expensive cities in the Middle East and twentieth in the global list.
List of Top 20 richest people in Dubai in 2026
Top 20 Richest People in Dubai in 2026
| Rank | Name | Net Worth (Estimated, 2026, USD) | Industry/Source of Wealth |
| 1 | Pavel Durov | ~$17.1B | Technology (Telegram) |
| 2 | Hussain Sajwani | ~$10.2B | Real Estate (DAMAC) |
| 3 | Yusuff Ali M.A. | ~$7.4B | Retail & Hospitality (LuLu Group) |
| 4 | Micky Jagtiani | ~$5.5B | Retail (Landmark Group) |
| 5 | Sunny Varkey | ~$4.8B | Education (GEMS) |
| 6 | Abdulla Al Futtaim | ~$4.9B | Automotive & Retail |
| 7 | Abdulla Bin Ahmad Al Ghurair | ~$4.9B | Banking & Real Estate |
| 8 | Joy Alukkas | ~$4.4B | Jewelry Retail |
| 9 | Ravi Pillai | ~$4.0B | Construction & Hospitality |
| 10 | B.R. Shetty | ~$3.7B | Healthcare & Finance |
| 11 | Shamsheer Vayalil | ~$2.9B | Healthcare |
| 12 | Thaksin Shinawatra | ~$2.3B | Telecommunications |
| 13 | Saif Al Ghurair | ~$2.6B | Real Estate & Manufacturing |
| 14 | Mohammed Khalaf Al Habtoor | ~$2.1B | Real Estate & Hospitality |
| 15 | Divyank Turakhia | ~$2.0B | Technology (Media.net) |
| 16 | Abdulla Al Naboodah | ~$1.9B | Diversified Conglomerate |
| 17 | Sunil Vaswani | ~$1.8B | Automotive & Food |
| 18 | Rizwan Sajan | ~$1.8B | Real Estate (Danube Group) |
| 19 | Raghuvinder Kataria | ~$1.5B | Telecom & Property |
| 20 | Lubna Khalid Ali Qasimi | ~$1.2–1.5B | Politics & Social Ventures |
Top 20 richest people in Dubai in 2026
1. Pavel Durov
Source: Google Images
Net Worth: $17.1 Billion
Industry: Technology
Pavel Durov is at the top of the list because he is a Russian-born tech entrepreneur who founded the popular privacy-oriented messaging app, Telegram, which has hundreds of millions of users around the globe. With the continued growth in its user base and the monetization of the app through premium subscriptions and in-app monetization options, his net worth has been rising dramatically. He built his fortune on his reputation from VKontakte, and since moving to Dubai, his notoriety as a successful technologist has helped him become one of the wealthiest people in the city.
2. Hussain Sajwani
Source: Google Images
Net Worth: $10.1 Billion
Industry: Real Estate
Hussain Sajwani is the founder and chairman of DAMAC Properties, a luxury real estate development company. With a net worth of $5.1 billion, Hussain Sajwani has played a pivotal role in shaping Dubai’s real estate landscape. DAMAC Properties is known for its opulent residential, commercial, and leisure projects.
Sajwani’s philanthropy includes contributions to community development and educational initiatives, cementing his place as a key figure in Dubai’s luxury real estate market.
3. Yusuff Ali M.A.
Source: Google Images
Net Worth: $7.4 Billion
Industry: Retail, Hospitality
Yusuff Ali M.A., other India’s billionaire living in Dubai, is the chairman of the Lulu Group, which runs one of the largest hypermarket chains in the Middle East region. Yusuff Ali has a net worth of $ 6.6 billion and has spread Lulu Hypermarkets across many countries, making the group a giant in retailing.
He has professionally speculated in many areas like banking and real estate business and he is a great donor to the course of education and health care facilities.
4. Micky Jagtiani
Source: Google Images
Net Worth: $5.5 Billion
Industry: Retail
Micky Jagtiani, originally from India, is the founder and chairman of Landmark Group, one of the largest retail chains in the Middle East. His business empire spans across various sectors, including retail, hospitality, and e-commerce. Jagtiani’s success in transforming Landmark Group into a retail giant has earned him several accolades. His philanthropic contributions include support for education and healthcare.
His net worth is estimated at $4.0 billion, making him one of the wealthiest figures in Dubai.
5. Abdulla Al Futtaim
Source: Google Images
Net Worth: $4.9 Billion
Industry: Automotive, Retail
Abdulla Al Futtaim is the chairman of the Al Futtaim Group, which has business interests in automotive, furniture, property, retail & electronics. Nowadays, Al Futtaim Group is one of the largest companies in the United Arab Emirates, and thanks to Abdulla, it operates not only in Dubai. Having a net worth of $ 3.3 billion, Al Futtaim has obviously played a role in impacting the UAE’s retail & automotive industries through its involvement in brands such as Toyota & IKEA.
6. Sunny Varkey
Source: Google Images
Net Worth: $4.8 Billion
Industry: Education
Mr. Sunny Varkey is the chief executive officer of GEMS Education, which runs more than 54 international schools all over the world. With a net worth of $3.8 billion, Varkey has a great influence in the field of education. There are more than 250 schools under the GEMS Education umbrella educational management system across different global countries that offer education to thousands of students. Like other philanthropists, Varkey’s philanthropy is geared towards enhancing the quality of education throughout the world and bringing quality education to poor children.
7. Abdulla Bin Ahmad Al Ghurair
Source: Google Images
Net Worth: $4.9 Billion
Industry: Banking, Real Estate
Abdulla Bin Ahmad Al Ghurair is one of the most influential Emirati businessmen, specializing in the financial sector. He is the founder of Mashreq Bank, an independent recently created bank in the UAE and has contributed towards the financial development of the country. He is not just a businessman; he is also involved in real estate and investments, apart from business in gulf His social responsibilities include supporting education and healthcare.
Altogether, he holds 4.24 billion USD in total assets as of 2023. His production is linked to his contribution to the economic development of the UAE.
8. Joy Alukkas
Net Worth: $$4.4B
Industry: Retail Jewellary
Joyalukkas is a brand that has been able to become an internationally recognized luxury retail brand and a leading player in the Arabian Gulf. Joy Alukkas’ position as one of the largest retail chains in jewellery has generated substantial amounts of wealth and generated significant levels of awareness and brand loyalty across the Arabian Gulf and Asia.
9. Ravi Pillai
Source: Google Images
Net Worth: $ 4.0 Billion
Industry: Construction, Hospitality
The RP Group has been forayed by Ravi Pillai and his current assessed total assets are $3.5 billion in the year 2023. The RP Group participates in construction, hospitality, and several other industries. Pillai is a highly listed Indian businessman in Dubai and was able to invest in some of the most important projects in the Middle East and India. He has transformed the RP Group to be among the most influential business entities in our environment.
10. B.R. Shetty
Source: Google Images
Net Worth: $3.7 Billion
Industry: Healthcare, Finance
Shetty has invested in the emirate as a pioneer of NMC Health, a large healthcare conglomerate, and as the benefactor behind UAE Exchange, a reputed money transfer service. Shetty healthcare and finance tycoon with a net worth of $3.5 billion has put the Middle East, especially Dubai, to know him. Some of his donations include those to medical and social welfare causes. Shetty also signed the Giving Pledge, which means that he was willing to distribute half of the wealth to the needy.
11. Shamsheer Vayalil
Source: Google Images
Chairman, VPS Healthcare Group
Net Worth: US $ 2.9 Billion
Having obtained his training in radiology, Shamsheer Vayalil is the founder and chairman of one of the largest health-care networks in the Middle East’s VPS Healthcare Group. As the chief executive of a large company operating 43 hospitals, medical centres and pharmacies throughout the UAE, Mr. Bin Laden has spearheaded expansion at a rate that prioritises both speed and excellence.
He also manages Amanat Holdings Company for Education Investment and Operation. Some of his contributions helped him to receive the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award in 2014.
12. Saif Al Ghurair
Source: Google Images
Net Worth: $ 2.6 Billion
Industry: Real Estate, Manufacturing
Saif Al Ghurair, alongside heading the Al Ghurair Group, is a conglomerate that is active in real estate, manufacturing and trading businesses. Al Ghurair holding an estimated portfolio of $ 2.5 billion has been decisive in the economy of Dubai city. His group company is involved in various businesses and industries and he is perhaps well known for his benevolence to community services.
13. Thaksin Shinawatra
Source: Google Images
Founder, Advanced Info Services and Shin Corporation
Net Worth: US$2.3 Billion
Thaksin Shinawatra is a businessman, politician, and academic from Thailand. He founded Advanced Info Services and Shin Corporation, transforming Thailand’s telecommunications sector. Shinawatra served as Thailand’s Prime Minister from 2001 to 2006, but his tenure was overshadowed by corruption allegations, leading to his ousting and exile in 2008. Despite the controversies, he remains an influential figure in Thailand’s economy and society.
14. Mohammed Khalaf Al Habtoor
Source: Google Images
Founder, Dubai Polo Gold Cup
Net Worth: US $2.1 Billion
Mohammed Khalaf Al Habtoor, with the background of one of the leading Dubai’s businessmen, leads the Al Habtoor Group, one of the largest corporations in the UAE, with a broad range of activities in real estate, insurance and the hospitality industry. But he has been responsible for large-scale efforts, including Al Habtoor City, that have recast the skyline of Dubai. Moreover, he inaugurated the Dubai Polo Gold Cup as the stunning exhibition of the city’s devotion to equestrian sports as well as the luxurious lifestyle.
15. Divyank Turakhia
Source: Google Images
- Founder: Media.net
- Net Worth: US $2.0 Billion
Divyank Turakhia, an Indian-born entrepreneur and computer programmer, is one of Dubai’s most successful self-made billionaires. He is the founder of Media.net, a leading global advertising technology company. Media.net was sold to a Chinese consortium in 2016 for $1.9 billion, one of the largest ad-tech deals in history.
Divyank’s entrepreneurial journey began in the digital advertising space, and his strategic thinking and innovative approach have propelled him to great heights. His net worth of $1.9 billion is a testament to his success as a visionary entrepreneur.
16. Abdulla Al Naboodah
- Founder: media.net
- Net Worth: US $1.9Billion
Abdulla Al Naboodah is a prominent member of the Al Naboodah Group, a family-run business with interests in logistics, civil engineering, automotive distribution, and construction. The group has contributed significantly to the construction of major development projects, roads, and bridges in Dubai. Al Naboodah, who is well-known for his enduring collaborations with international brands, is projected to be worth approximately $1.9 billion in 2026.
17. Sunil Vaswani
Chairman, Stallion Group
Net Worth: US$1.8 Billion
Food companies and an automotive manufacturing company are among the many different interests of Sunil Vaswani, an Indian-born Nigerian billionaire who chairs the Stallion Group. The group is based in Dubai and has operations in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. After completing his studies, he came to justify family business when he was 21 years old and stuck into some legal issues but he gets rid of all allegations. As of the year 2016, he had accumulated his new worth to a value of about US$ 1.8billion, making him one of the best entrepreneurial giants.
18. Rizwan Sajan
Chairman Danube Group
Net Worth: US$1.8 Billion
The founder and chairman of the Danube Group, a well-known real estate and building materials company in Dubai, is Rizwan Sajan, also referred to as the “1-Dirham Man.” His flexible payment plans and customer-focused pricing are widely credited with popularizing affordable luxury housing. Danube’s wealth, which is projected to reach approximately $1.8 billion in 2026, has been greatly increased by his aggressive real estate market expansion in Dubai.
19. Raghuvinder Kataria
Chairman of Kataria Holdings
Net Worth: US$1.5 billion
Raghuvinder Kataria is a British billionaire with a flourishing business presence in Dubai. Renowned for his expertise in the telecommunications and property sectors, he serves as chairman of Kataria Holdings.
Kataria began his illustrious career with International Computers Limited, where he ascended to the role of European treasurer. He later played a pivotal role in forming Jasmine Telecom, a Thai telecom operator, which eventually merged with Bharti Enterprises. His sharp business acumen and vision have cemented his legacy as a stalwart in the global business arena.
20. Lubna Khalid Ali Qasimi
Net Worth: US$1-5 billion
Lubna Khalid Ali Qasimi is a trailblazing Emirati politician and a member of Sharjah’s ruling family. She made history as the first woman minister in the UAE, serving in key roles including Minister of State for Tolerance and Minister of Economic and Planning. A graduate in computer science with an MBA, she was ranked 36th on Forbes’ list of the world’s most powerful women in 2017. Her accolades include the ITP Best Personal Achievement Award and the title of Dame Commander of the British Empire.
Conclusion
Dubai is home to influential billionaires who have reshaped its business landscape with innovative ventures across real estate, retail, tech, and education. Among the richest people in Dubai, their wealth and influence extend globally, driving economic growth, job creation, and social change in the UAE and beyond.
Dubai’s blend of modernity, luxury, and entrepreneurial spirit makes it a prime destination for wealth creation, and the influence of these billionaires will continue to strengthen its position as a leading financial hub.
