Every major geopolitical conflict raises the same question:
Where does capital go?
Historically, money looks for three things:
• safety
• predictable rules
• tax efficiency
So this raises a logical question:
Is there an alternative to the United Arab Emirates today?
To answer this question, we compared the UAE to key countries in the world — from the US to Switzerland — using ten key international indices.
The indices on which the comparison was made:
1) Safety Index
2) Crime Index
3) Homicide Rate — homicide rate per 100,000 inhabitants
4) Inflation
5) Income Tax
6) Corporate Tax
7) Purchasing Power Index
8) Global Peace Index
9) GDP Growth
10) Millionaire Migration — net inflow or outflow of wealthy people
These indicators make it possible to assess the level of security, economic stability and the attractiveness of the jurisdiction for capital.
🇦🇪 UAE vs 🇪🇸 Spain
Safety index
UAE 86 | Spain 62
Better: UAE
Crime index
UAE 14 | Spain 37
Better: UAE
Homicide rate
UAE 1 | Spain 1
Same
Inflation
UAE 1.7% | Spain 2.8%
Better: UAE
Income tax
UAE 0% | Spain up to 54%
Better: UAE
Corporate income tax
UAE 9% | Spain 25%
Better: UAE
Purchasing power index
UAE 126 | Spain 104
Better: UAE
Global Peace Index
UAE 31 | Spain 23
Better: Spain
GDP growth
UAE ≈ 5% | Spain ≈ 2%
Better: UAE
Millionaire migration
UAE +9800 | Spain +500
Better: UAE
📊 The result: Spain remains a comfortable European country to live in, but it is significantly inferior to the UAE in terms of taxes and economic dynamics.
🇦🇪 UAE vs 🇺🇸 USA
Safety index
UAE 86 | USA 51
Better: UAE
Crime index
UAE 14 | USA 49
Better: UAE
Homicide rate
UAE 1 | USA 6
Better: UAE
Inflation
UAE 1.7% | USA 2.9%
Better: UAE
Income tax
UAE 0% | US up to 37%
Better: UAE
Corporate income tax
UAE 9% | USA 21%
Better: UAE
Purchasing power index
UAE 126 | USA 146
Better: USA
Global Peace Index
UAE 31 | USA 132
Better: UAE
GDP growth
UAE ≈ 5% | USA ≈ 2%
Better: UAE
Millionaire migration
UAE +9800 | US negative balance
Better: UAE
📊 Bottom line: The US remains the world's largest economy, but the UAE looks like a more attractive jurisdiction in terms of tax burden, security, and capital inflows.
🇦🇪 UAE vs 🇩🇪 Germany
Safety index
UAE 86 | Germany 62
Better: UAE
Crime index
UAE 14 | Germany 38
Better: UAE
Homicide rate
UAE 1 | Germany 1
Same
Inflation
UAE 1.7% | Germany 2.3%
Better: UAE
Income tax
UAE 0% | Germany up to 45%
Better: UAE
Corporate income tax
UAE 9% | Germany ≈ 30%
Better: UAE
Purchasing power index
UAE 126 | Germany 138
Better: Germany
Global Peace Index
UAE 31 | Germany 20
Better: Germany
GDP growth
UAE ≈ 5% | Germany ≈ 1%
Better: UAE
Millionaire migration
UAE +9800 | Germany negative balance
Better: UAE
📊 Bottom line: Germany is a stable European economy, but its high tax burden and low growth rates make it less attractive to global capital.
🇦🇪 UAE vs 🇨🇭 Switzerland
Safety index
UAE 86 | Switzerland 73
Better: UAE
Crime index
UAE 14 | Switzerland 27
Better: UAE
Homicide rate
UAE 1 | Switzerland 1
Same
Inflation
UAE 1.7% | Switzerland 1.1%
Better: Switzerland
Income tax
UAE 0% | Switzerland up to 43%
Better: UAE
Corporate income tax
UAE 9% | Switzerland ≈14-20%
Better: UAE
Purchasing power index
UAE 126 | Switzerland 170
Better: Switzerland
Global Peace Index
UAE 31 | Switzerland 10
Better: Switzerland
GDP growth
UAE ≈ 5% | Switzerland ≈ 1.5%
Better: UAE
Millionaire migration
UAE +9800 | Switzerland +3000
Better: UAE
📊 Bottom line: Switzerland is traditionally considered a financial haven, but the UAE benefits from tax policy and higher economic dynamics.
🇦🇪 UAE vs 🇹🇷 Turkey
Safety index
UAE 86 | Turkey 59
Better: UAE
Crime index
UAE 14 | Turkey 41
Better: UAE
Homicide rate
UAE 1 | Turkey 3
Better: UAE
Inflation
UAE 1.7% | Turkey 58%
Better: UAE
Income tax
UAE 0% | Turkey up to 40%
Better: UAE
Corporate income tax
UAE 9% | Turkey 25%
Better: UAE
Purchasing power index
UAE 126 | Turkey 72
Better: UAE
Global Peace Index
UAE 31 | Turkey 147
Better: UAE
GDP growth
UAE ≈ 5% | Turkey ≈ 3%
Better: UAE
Millionaire migration
UAE +9800 | Turkey negative balance
Better: UAE
📊 The bottom line: high inflation and economic instability make Turkey a less predictable jurisdiction for capital.
🇦🇪 UAE vs 🇷🇺 Russia
Safety index
UAE 86 | Russia 62
Better: UAE
Crime index
UAE 14 | Russia 38
Better: UAE
Homicide rate
UAE 1 | Russia 7
Better: UAE
Inflation
UAE 1.7% | Russia 8.4%
Better: UAE
Income tax
UAE 0% | Russia 13— 22%
Better: UAE
Corporate income tax
UAE 9% | Russia 25%
Better: UAE
Purchasing power index
UAE 126 | Russia 61
Better: UAE
Global Peace Index
UAE 31 | Russia 158
Better: UAE
GDP growth
UAE ≈ 5% | Russia ≈ 2%
Better: UAE
Millionaire migration
UAE +9800 | Russia negative balance
Better: UAE
📊 Bottom line: Russia remains a major economy, but higher inflation, crime rates and capital outflows make it a less attractive jurisdiction compared to the UAE.
🇦🇪 UAE vs 🇹🇭 Thailand
Safety index
UAE 86 | Thailand 63
Better: UAE
Crime index
UAE 14 | Thailand 36
Better: UAE
Homicide rate
UAE 1 | Thailand ≈5
Better: UAE
Inflation
UAE 1.7% | Thailand 1.4%
Better: Thailand
Income tax
UAE 0% | Thailand up to 35%
Better: UAE
Corporate income tax
UAE 9% | Thailand 20%
Better: UAE
Purchasing power index
UAE 126 | Thailand 45
Better: UAE
Global Peace Index
UAE 31 | Thailand 92
Better: UAE
GDP growth
UAE ≈ 5% | Thailand ≈ 3%
Better: UAE
Millionaire migration
UAE +9800 | Thailand +450
Better: UAE
📊 Bottom line: Thailand is popular as a tourist destination, but is inferior to the UAE in most economic and institutional indicators.
🇦🇪 UAE vs 🌴 Bali (🇮🇩 Indonesia)
Safety index
UAE 86 | Bali ~49
Better: UAE
Crime index
UAE 14 | Bali ~51
Better: UAE
Purchasing power index
UAE 126 | Bali ~13
Better: UAE
Income tax
UAE 0% | Indonesia 5— 35%
Better: UAE
Inflation
UAE 1.7% | Indonesia ≈ 2.2%
Better: UAE
📊 Bottom line: Bali is popular among expats and digital nomads, but as a financial jurisdiction, it is significantly inferior to the UAE.
Conclusion:
If we compare the US, Europe, Switzerland and popular Asian destinations, it becomes obvious:
• The UAE is one of the safest countries in the world
• it has one of the lowest tax burdens
• the economy is growing faster than most developed countries
• There is the largest influx of wealthy people
That is why, against the background of global conflicts, capital is not leaving the UAE.
On the contrary, he keeps moving here.
According to the Henley Private Wealth Migration Report, for several years in a row, the UAE has been the world's largest influx of millionaires.
And while many countries are raising taxes and increasing regulations,
The Emirates remains one of the few jurisdictions that combine:
✔ safety
✔ economic growth
✔ tax efficiency
✔ stable legal environment
So the main question today is different:
Does the UAE have a comparable alternative?
_________________________________________________
Sources
⸻
1. Safety, crime and purchasing power
Primary source:
Numbeo
Crime Index / Safety Index
https://www.numbeo.com/crime/rankings_by_country.jsp
Crime comparison (countries and cities)
https://www.numbeo.com/crime/compare_countries.jsp
Purchasing Power Index
https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/rankings_by_country.jsp
⸻
2. Homicides per 100,000 people
Primary source:
World Bank
Homicide rate database
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/VC.IHR.PSRC.P5
Country pages:
UAE
https://data.worldbank.org/country/united-arab-emirates
United States
https://data.worldbank.org/country/united-states
Germany
https://data.worldbank.org/country/germany
Spain
https://data.worldbank.org/country/spain
Russia
https://data.worldbank.org/country/russia
Turkey
https://data.worldbank.org/country/turkiye
Thailand
https://data.worldbank.org/country/thailand
Switzerland
https://data.worldbank.org/country/switzerland
Indonesia
https://data.worldbank.org/country/indonesia
⸻
3. Inflation
Source
World Bank
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG
The following database is also used
International Monetary Fund
World Economic Outlook
https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO
⸻
4. Economic growth outlook
Source
International Monetary Fund
World Economic Outlook
https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO
Also
IMF UAE Article IV Report
https://www.imf.org/en/Countries/ARE
⸻
5. Taxes
Primary international source
PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries
https://taxsummaries.pwc.com
UAE
https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/united-arab-emirates
United States
https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/united-states
Germany
https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/germany
Spain
https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/spain
Turkey
https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/turkey
Thailand
https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/thailand
Switzerland
https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/switzerland
Indonesia
https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/indonesia
⸻
6. Millionaire inflows
Source
Henley & Partners
Henley Private Wealth Migration Report
https://www.henleyglobal.com/publications/henley-private-wealth-migration-report-2025
Country-level data
https://www.henleyglobal.com/publications/henley-private-wealth-migration-report-2025/country-wealth-flows
⸻
7. Peacefulness and political stability
Source
Institute for Economics and Peace
Global Peace Index
https://www.visionofhumanity.org/maps/#/
Report
https://www.visionofhumanity.org/resources
⸻
8. Investment inflows
Source
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
World Investment Report
https://unctad.org/topic/investment/world-investment-report
FDI data
https://unctadstat.unctad.org
⸻
9. Dubai real estate market
Official sources
Dubai Land Department
https://dubailand.gov.ae
Market statistics platform
DXBInteract
https://dxbinteract.com
⸻
10. Dubai population statistics
Source
Dubai Statistics Center
https://www.dsc.gov.ae
⸻
11. UAE economy
Source
Central Bank of the UAE
https://www.centralbank.ae
Economic reports
https://www.centralbank.ae/en/publications/
All cards and comparisons draw on data from:
1. Numbeo
2. World Bank
3. IMF
4. PwC
5. Henley & Partners
6. Global Peace Index
7. UNCTAD
8. Dubai Land Department
9. Dubai Statistics Center
10. Central Bank UAE
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