Setting Up in DIFC and ADGM
Explore the leading financial hubs of the UAE - Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). These jurisdictions provide robust, internationally recognised frameworks that attract investors, family offices, and startups from around the world.
Whether your goal is to establish a holding company, a family office, or a regulated financial services entity, both DIFC and ADGM offer secure, flexible, and business-friendly platforms underpinned by English common law. With their global credibility, modern infrastructure, and strong regulatory standards, they serve as gateways to regional and international markets.
Foundations in DIFC and ADGM are powerful tools for wealth preservation, succession planning, and philanthropy.
- Why : Protect family wealth, centralise governance, and ensure smooth succession.
- Benefits : Asset protection, perpetual existence, privacy, and tax efficiency.
- Structure : Independent legal entity, managed by a Council, with optional Guardian or Registered Agent.
- Ideal for : Families, entrepreneurs, and investors seeking long-term legacy planning.
Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) are passive holding companies used to isolate and ring-fence assets and liabilities. They are widely used in both DIFC and ADGM to hold real estate, shares, intellectual property, or to support family office and investment structures..
- Why : Protect and separate assets from operating risk.
- Benefits : Flexible setup, strong legal protections, 100% foreign ownership, no currency restrictions.
- Who it is for : Investors, corporates, and family offices seeking efficient asset structuring.
ADGM and DIFC allow holding companies for asset consolidation and investment structuring.
- Why : Centralise ownership of operating companies and investments.
- Benefits : Tax efficiency, simplified reporting, global recognition.
- Ideal for : Investors, family groups, and corporates expanding regionally.
Both DIFC and ADGM allow families to consolidate and manage wealth via an SFO licence.
- Why : Centralise wealth management, succession, and governance.
- Benefits : Regulatory clarity, access to world-class legal frameworks, and privacy.
- Ideal for : High-net-worth families with multi-generational wealth.
DIFC and ADGM are the UAE’s prime hubs for fund managers and asset managers.
- Why : Manage investments, launch funds, and attract global investors.
- Benefits : Robust regulatory regime, access to regional investors, global recognition.
- Ideal for : Professional investors, asset managers, and financial advisors.
DIFC and ADGM are the UAE’s hubs for financial advisory and investment arranging firms.
- Why : Advise on financial products, arrange investment deals, and provide fund administration.
- Benefits : Lower capital requirements, robust regulatory regime, global recognition.
- Ideal for : Financial advisors, wealth managers, and corporate finance consultants.
DIFC is the regional hub for FinTech and startups, offering subsidised licences and access to venture funding.
- Why : Scale your technology firm in MEASA’s largest innovation ecosystem.
- Benefits : 90% licence subsidies, AED 1bn Dubai Future District Fund, 100% foreign ownership.
- Ideal for : Startups, scale-ups, and innovators in financial technology.
ADGM RegLab is one of the region’s first regulatory sandboxes, designed to help FinTech firms test innovative solutions in a controlled environment before applying for a full financial licence.
- Why : Safely develop and trial FinTech products with direct FSRA guidance.
- Benefits : 2-year testing licence, reduced compliance burden, direct regulator access, 0% corporate tax.
- Ideal for : Startups and scale-ups in payments, digital assets, robo-advisory, and regtech looking to validate business models.
DIFC and ADGM allow the setup of Proprietary Investment Companies (Prop Investment Firms) to trade and invest only their own funds. These firms are non-regulated since no client money is involved.
- Why : Actively manage personal or family wealth through trading and investment strategies.
- Benefits : Simple setup, no regulatory licensing, 100% foreign ownership.
- Ideal for : Families, UHNWIs, and entrepreneurs investing their own funds.
A DIFC Representative Office allows a foreign-regulated financial institution to establish a presence in Dubai without conducting regulated financial services or onboarding clients.
- Why : To establish a presence in a new market without committing to full operations.
- Benefits : Low cost, low risk, local visibility, market research, relationship building, and promotional support.
- Ideal for : Companies exploring new markets, assessing opportunities, or building networks before launching commercial operations.
