Quick Answer: Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has signed a strategic agreement with Swiss wealth manager Julius Baer to help global business investors, family offices, and entrepreneurs establish and expand their presence in Dubai. Announced in July 2026, the partnership taps into Julius Baer’s network across more than 25 countries to channel international interest into structured company formation in Dubai, aligning with the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33.
Dubai’s push to become a global capital hub just gained a significant new partner.
Dubai DET has signed a strategic agreement with Julius Baer (Middle East), a Swiss wealth manager with assets under management of CHF 547 billion as of June 2026. The goal is to create more structured pathways for global business investors looking to establish or grow their presence in the emirate.
For entrepreneurs and family offices evaluating Dubai as a base for wealth, business, or both, this signals something practical. It’s an increasingly coordinated system connecting international capital directly to Dubai’s business setup infrastructure.
What the DET-Julius Baer Partnership Actually Does
The agreement connects Julius Baer’s international client network, spanning more than 25 countries and 60 locations, with DET’s role in supporting business establishment in Dubai.
That role includes government engagement and residency pathways. In practice, Julius Baer clients considering Dubai for business or wealth purposes now get a more direct route into the emirate’s investment ecosystem, rather than navigating company registration in Dubai independently.
Hadi Badri, CEO of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation, DET’s economic development arm, described the partnership as a way to convert strategic interest into structured establishment and investment outcomes.
Rahul Malhotra, Julius Baer’s head of Region Emerging Markets, pointed to the bank’s two-decade presence in Dubai. That history, he said, gives the bank a deep understanding of the market it now formally supports through this alliance.
This isn’t Dubai’s first move of this kind. The Julius Baer alliance follows a separate agreement between DET and Deutsche Bank aimed at the same goal, connecting global business investors to Dubai through an established international banking network.
Together, these partnerships point to a deliberate strategy. Rather than only marketing Dubai broadly, DET is now working through trusted financial institutions that already hold direct relationships with the ultra-high-net-worth individuals and family offices most likely to relocate capital.
Why This Matters for the Dubai Investment Market
The timing lines up with real growth data.
According to the Dubai International Financial Centre, the number of family-related entities based there reached 1,289 by the end of 2025, up 61% year on year. Family foundations grew 66% over the same period.
That’s a strong signal. The Dubai investment market isn’t just attracting individual entrepreneurs anymore, it’s increasingly becoming a base for institutional and generational wealth structures.
Malhotra also acknowledged that shifting global and regional conditions have added complexity for international investors. But he argued this has, if anything, reinforced Dubai’s appeal as a stable, credible destination for long-term capital.
What This Means for Foreign Investors in Dubai
Partnerships like this one don’t change the underlying rules for business setup in Dubai. What they change is the on-ramp.
For foreign investors in Dubai working through Julius Baer or a similar network, the practical benefit is a warmer introduction to DET’s ecosystem. That can mean faster access to the right government contacts, clearer guidance on structuring, and a smoother path from initial interest to an actual registered entity.
But the fundamentals of company formation in Dubai still apply regardless of which door you walk in through. You still need to choose the right jurisdiction, mainland or free zone, select accurate business activities, and complete standard licensing and compliance steps.
This is where the partnership’s practical value has a ceiling. It can open a conversation and build early confidence in the market. It doesn’t replace the actual registration, licensing, and compliance process that every business, regardless of how it arrived, still has to complete.
Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and the Bigger Picture
Both this partnership and the earlier Deutsche Bank agreement are explicitly framed around the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, the emirate’s strategic plan to double the size of its economy by 2033.
Attracting global business investors and family offices is a core pillar of that agenda. Financial partnerships like this one are one of the more visible tools Dubai is using to hit that target, alongside ongoing reforms to foreign ownership rules, corporate tax structuring, and residency pathways.
For entrepreneurs watching from outside the UAE, this is a useful signal. It confirms that Dubai’s growth strategy isn’t slowing down, and that the emirate is actively building more structured, institution-backed routes for capital to enter the market.
Turning Interest Into an Actual Business
If you’re a global business investor considering Dubai off the back of news like this, the next step is the same regardless of which bank or advisor introduced you to the market.
You’ll need to confirm your jurisdiction, mainland or free zone, based on your business model and client base. You’ll need to complete company registration in Dubai, prepare the right documentation, and secure your license.
This is where working with business setup consultants in Dubai adds real value, translating broad market interest into an actual, compliant, operating entity.
Quickplus Business Consultants owns and operates government-licensed Amer and Tasheel centers in-house. This means your company formation in Dubai, from license issuance to visa processing to Emirates ID applications, is handled directly rather than routed through third-party centers.
Final Thoughts
The DET-Julius Baer partnership reflects where Dubai is heading. It’s building more structured, institution-backed channels to convert global interest into real business setup in Dubai.
For foreign investors in Dubai, that means a warmer entry point into the market. It doesn’t remove the practical steps of company registration in Dubai itself.
At Quickplus Business Consultants in Dubai, we help global business investors move from initial interest to a fully registered, compliant business in Dubai. Backed by our in-house, government-licensed Amer and Tasheel centers, we handle your documentation and registration directly. Get in touch with Quickplus Business Consultants for a free consultation on setting up your business in Dubai.
