Private & family wealth in DIFC
Create a dedicated platform for family wealth administration, investment oversight, governance, business interests and succession—designed around one family’s long-term objectives.
What is a Single Family Office?
A Single Family Office is a dedicated organisation serving one family and its family members, entities, structures and businesses. In DIFC’s current framework, the licensed status is called a Family Office.
Bring reporting, treasury, tax coordination, accounting, asset information and professional advisers into one organised operating model.
Create repeatable decision-making processes for family businesses, ownership, next-generation preparation and intergenerational wealth.
Coordinate investment policy, manager selection, due diligence, allocation, portfolio monitoring, risk and performance analysis.
Know the regulatory boundary
The family-office model coordinates the affairs of a family. Regulated financial services remain subject to the applicable DFSA framework.
The current DIFC regime allows a licensed Family Office to serve family members, family entities, family structures and family businesses of the relevant family.
Asset management, investment advice, dealing, custody, fund management and other Financial Services must be assessed against applicable DFSA rules.
More than investment management
A sophisticated family office connects wealth administration with governance, succession, business interests, reporting, professional advice and next-generation preparation.
The correct operating model depends on what the family wants to manage internally, what will be outsourced and which activities require specialist authorisation.
Why consider DIFC?
DIFC combines a family-arrangements framework with structures, professional advisers, family-business resources and international connectivity.
The Family Arrangements Regulations address family businesses, wealth preservation, governance, succession and legacy.
Coordinate the Family Office with foundations, trusts, holding companies, Prescribed Companies and other suitable structures.
Access legal, tax, banking, investment, governance, accounting and corporate-services expertise within a connected district.
Position family-office functions in an international business centre connecting the GCC, Asia, Europe and wider markets.
Who should consider it?
Eligibility is governed by the current DIFC requirements. Commercial rationale, family composition, assets, activities and the proposed operating model should all be assessed.
Coordinate substantial global wealth, investments, reporting, family structures and long-term governance.
Separate family governance and wealth administration from the day-to-day management of operating companies.
Organise new investments, family governance and intergenerational planning after creating significant business value.
Assess Dubai as a coordination base where there is a genuine family, commercial, investment or strategic rationale.
Develop governance, wealth structuring and succession within a specialised financial-centre environment.
Coordinate businesses, properties, investment vehicles, foundations, trusts and advisers across jurisdictions.
A defined eligibility requirement
The current regulations define the threshold using fair market value or, where that cannot be ascertained, book value. Proof that the family meets this requirement forms part of the Family Office application.
This is one part of eligibility. The application also requires family, ancestry, ownership, control, UBO, source-of-wealth, source-of-funds and proposed-services information.
Family Office services
The final service map should reflect the family’s real needs and remain within applicable legal and regulatory limits.
Consolidated financial, investment, asset and family-business reporting.
Policies, allocation, manager selection, due diligence and monitoring.
Constitutions, councils, committees, meetings and decision records.
Ownership, leadership transition, next-generation and legacy coordination.
Strategic coordination across family businesses and operating interests.
Organise cross-border tax advisers, reporting and planning workstreams.
Cash management, budgeting, controls and banking coordination.
Coordinate financial, operational, governance and continuity risks.
Define charitable objectives and coordinate philanthropic initiatives.
Records, documents, advisers, reporting and permitted personal services.
Illustrative structure
No structure is universally better. Legal, tax, governance, succession, investment and regulatory advice should shape the final arrangement.
Objectives, values, governance and long-term priorities.
Administration, governance, investment oversight, reporting and adviser coordination.
Illustration only. The Family Office may coordinate structures without necessarily owning every family asset directly.
| Structure | Main purpose | Governance | Asset holding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Office | Family services and coordination | Family-focused operating model | Can coordinate or support |
| Foundation | Separate legal structure for defined purposes | Founder, Council and Guardian where applicable | Can hold assets |
| Trust | Fiduciary ownership and benefit arrangement | Trustee-based | Can hold assets |
| Holding company | Ownership of companies and investments | Corporate | Strong |
Family Office setup
The sequence depends on the family, activities and selected structures. A disciplined assessment reduces avoidable revisions.
Clarify why the family needs a dedicated office and which outcomes matter.
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Assess the family definition, common ancestry and USD 50 million asset requirement.
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Identify governance, investment, administration, succession and business functions.
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Determine whether any proposed activity requires DFSA or other authorisation.
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Choose the Family Office entity and any supporting structures required.
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Organise ancestry, ownership, UBO, source-of-wealth and source-of-funds information.
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Provide the prescribed application, confirmations and supporting information.
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Satisfy the applicable conditions and obtain the relevant DIFC licence.
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Implement the office, personnel, reporting, banking and decision-making model.
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Keep required records and complete applicable filings and annual confirmations.
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Application readiness
DIFC’s application framework requires information about the family, its wealth, control, structures and proposed Family Office Services. The exact documentation should be confirmed for the application.
Tailored Family Office plan
The recommended entity, office, personnel, governance, compliance, structures and professional support depend on the family’s objectives and proposed activities.
Avoidable setup mistakes
A Family Office should be designed around the family’s long-term requirements—not treated like an ordinary company incorporation.
Define objectives, services, governance and succession before selecting a structure.
Map investment, advisory, fiduciary and administrative functions clearly.
Review regulated and non-regulated activities before implementation.
Create clear roles, decision processes, forums and reporting responsibilities.
Address ownership, leadership and next-generation preparation early.
Plan for records, filings, confirmations, reporting and continuing compliance.
Frequently asked questions
These answers are a practical starting point. Eligibility, activities, structures and regulatory requirements remain subject to current assessment.
It is a dedicated organisation that provides family-office services for one family and its associated family members, entities, structures and businesses.
DIFC’s current framework uses the term Family Office. The Family Arrangements Regulations 2023 replaced the previous Single Family Office regime.
The current Minimum Net Asset Requirement is USD 50 million in aggregate net asset value, determined using fair market value or, where that cannot be ascertained, book value.
The recommended setup depends on the chosen entity, office, personnel, governance, structures, compliance requirements and professional support. A confidential review is needed before confirming the appropriate scope.
Not automatically. The answer depends on the activities being performed. Any proposed service within the DFSA regulatory perimeter must be assessed separately.
Certain investment-related functions are included within the Family Office Services framework, subject to applicable law. Regulated Financial Services require a separate regulatory assessment.
A Family Office is primarily an operating and coordinating organisation. A DIFC Foundation is a separate legal entity that may be used for defined governance, succession, asset-holding or philanthropic objectives.
Yes, a trust may form part of the broader family structure where appropriate and subject to the applicable DIFC Trust Law and regulatory requirements.
They may consider DIFC where the family satisfies the applicable eligibility requirements and has a genuine family, commercial, investment or strategic rationale for the structure.
Information may include family details, proof of common ancestry, source of wealth, source of funds, ownership, control, UBOs, family entities and businesses, proposed services and evidence of the Minimum Net Asset Requirement.
The appropriate office and staffing model depends on the structure, substantial UAE presence, appointed service providers and proposed activities. The current regulations do not establish one universal employee minimum for every Family Office.
No fixed approval period should be promised. Timing depends on the application, documentation, due diligence, structure and any applicable regulatory review.
Confidential Family Office consultation
Share the family’s objectives, assets, businesses, governance priorities, proposed activities and succession requirements. We’ll help you identify the next practical step.