Family Foundation in DIFC in the UAE
from USD 4 800
Family Foundation in DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre)
DIFC, the UAE’s leading financial center, offers the opportunity to register foundations for family wealth management. These foundations not only meet confidentiality requirements but also provide access to DIFC’s advanced banking and financial infrastructure.
Key Benefits:
- Asset protection: The foundation’s assets are protected from claims by third parties against the Founder and beneficiaries; moreover, the assets are excluded from the estate in inheritance proceedings;
- Stable foundation structure: Beneficiaries cannot transfer their rights to third parties, which prevents unwanted persons from entering. The foundation is managed by the Board of Directors, while beneficiaries receive income generated by the foundation’s activities;
- Enhanced confidentiality: Unlike regular companies, information about the foundation’s structure, including details about the Founder and beneficiaries, is not publicly available;
- Tax benefits: In most cases, the foundation is exempt from corporate income tax, capital gains tax, and withholding tax on distributions to beneficiaries. However, beneficiaries are required to declare such income and pay personal income tax in their country of tax residence;
- DIFC is one of the most reputable free zones, featuring its own court system and the ability to apply common law.
Process and Timeline*
1 Preparation of KYC and draft Memorandum & Articles of Association — approximately 5 business days.
2 Uploading documents to the DIFC portal and payment of fees — 1 day.
3 Regulatory review and issuance of the certificate — approximately 10–15 business days.
4 Obtaining the immigration card and, if required, visas — 1–2 weeks.
*Practical timelines are based on recent registrations by Smart Advisors Group; actual timing depends on the client’s promptness in providing required information.
Service Fees
Why Choose Smart Advisors Group?
A team of lawyers and tax consultants with over 10 years of experience in structuring family assets.
Full support — from concept development to opening bank accounts.
Fixed transparent pricing and a dedicated personal manager at every stage.
Frequently Asked Questions:
A foundation is an independent legal entity without shareholders. Unlike a trust, it has separate legal personality, and unlike an offshore company, it is not owned directly by the beneficiary, so the assets are legally segregated.
Shares in companies, bank accounts, securities, real estate, intellectual property rights, yachts, and cryptocurrency (subject to additional approval by the broker/exchange).
No, residency is not required. Only one director/registered agent with a UAE visa is required, which we provide as part of our service.
Approximately 10–15 business days.
The timing depends on the speed of KYC checks and the completeness of documents.
There is no statutory minimum initial capital in DIFC; in practice, a nominal amount (e.g., USD 100) is sufficient to open a bank account.
Yes. The foundation’s board can update the register of beneficiaries and income distribution rules without re-registering the structure.
We’re Here to Answer Your Questions
Ready to discuss the purpose of your family foundation? Submit your request, and our consultant will contact you within one business day.
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