Nearly half of entrepreneurs worldwide plan to relocate or expand their operations to another country, and their primary motivation is not tax optimization — it is access to new customers. That finding, from the UBS Global Entrepreneur Report 2026, reframes how Dubai reads the global entrepreneurship landscape.
The survey of 215 business leaders across 26 markets, including the UAE, shows 45 percent of entrepreneurs are likely to relocate or expand. European entrepreneurs lead the movement, with over half considering a move. Technology and healthcare entrepreneurs show the strongest intent, with 54 percent stating they are likely to relocate or expand.
Among those planning a move, 64 percent cite access to new customer markets as the primary driver. Almost a quarter aim to cut operating costs, while 25 percent are attracted by a favourable regulatory environment. Tax ranks well below all three, with just 13 percent naming it as a primary relocation reason.
For Dubai, the data validates the emirate’s market positioning. The Dubai International Financial Centre alone hosts over 5,800 active registered companies. Dubai’s D33 economic agenda targets doubling the size of the economy by 2033 and positioning the city among the top three global urban economies. Entrepreneurs arriving in search of customers, not concessions, are arriving in a city built to deliver on that promise.
The geographic breakdown adds further precision: over half of European respondents expect to relocate or expand, making the continent the largest source of potential inbound entrepreneurs. For Dubai’s free zones and business setup ecosystem, the report suggests that marketing connectivity and market access — rather than tax incentives alone — may be the more effective pitch.
Source: Dubai Chronicle / UBS | Dubai Weekly
