DIFC Structuring Advisory
Choose The Right DIFC Structure To Protect Your Wealth And Assets
Expert-led advice for families, founders and corporate groups weighing up a DIFC Prescribed Company, Holding Company, Foundation or Family Office.
Trusted by leading businesses, institutions and law firms
The Right Structure Starts With Your Objectives
The Dubai International Financial Centre has its own legal framework based on English common law, and is widely used by families, investors and corporate groups to hold assets, organise group ownership and plan for succession.
Each DIFC structure serves a different purpose. Choosing the wrong one can add cost, complexity or tax exposure later. We start with what you want to achieve, then advise on the structure, governance and tax position that best supports it.
Who We Advise
Our DIFC structuring advice is built for clients with complex holdings, cross-border interests or long-term family plans.
Founders & Corporate Groups
Organising group ownership, holding regional subsidiaries and preparing for investment or exit.
Multinational Corporations
Groups operating in or investing across the Middle East that need local structuring and tax expertise alongside their in-house teams.
Families & Family Offices
Families from Hong Kong, China, the UK, Europe, the US, Singapore and Australia planning succession and protecting wealth.
Law Firms & Advisers
Law firms, private equity firms, auditors and financial advisers looking for a trusted structuring partner for their clients.
Which DIFC Structure Fits Your Objective?
Select what you want to achieve to see the structure clients in your position typically consider.
Explore The DIFC Structures We Advise On
Each structure has its own purpose, governance model and long-term fit. Select one to see how it is commonly used and who it typically suits.
DIFC Prescribed Company
A private company limited by shares and the DIFC’s widely used special purpose vehicle (SPV). It is primarily used as a holding company or SPV for structuring transactions, financing or holding assets.
Worth knowing: A Prescribed Company can only be used for specific, defined purposes. If you already hold one, we can review whether it still fits your objectives.
Discuss a Prescribed Company With An AdviserCommonly used for
- Holding GCC real estate, shares or partnership interests
- Structured financing, including intra-group lending and securitisation
- Ownership, leasing and financing of aircraft or vessels
- Owning and commercialising intellectual property, such as trademarks
- Family holding structures as part of succession planning
Typically suited to
- Family offices and high-net-worth families
- International investors holding regional assets
- Funds and private equity firms
- Businesses that need a dedicated vehicle for a specific purpose
DIFC Holding Company
A company limited by shares that brings ownership of subsidiaries, assets and investments together under one parent entity, operating within the DIFC’s common law framework.
Worth knowing: A clear holding structure can make it easier to bring in investors or sell part of a business. How it is taxed depends on its activities and where its subsidiaries operate, so we review the tax position as part of our advice.
Discuss a Holding Company With An AdviserCommonly used for
- Centralising ownership and control of local and international subsidiaries
- Preparing a business for investment, acquisition or exit
- Ring-fencing operational risk away from group assets
- Formal group governance with defined boards and reporting
- Succession planning alongside a Foundation or family office structure
Typically suited to
- International corporations managing regional or global subsidiaries
- Entrepreneurs and business owners
- Private investors and fund managers consolidating portfolios
- High-net-worth individuals and family offices
DIFC Foundation
An independent legal entity that can own assets in its own name. It has no shareholders and is governed by a council, with a founder, beneficiaries and an optional guardian. Unlike a trust, it does not rely on trustees.
Worth knowing: A Foundation can continue indefinitely unless its charter provides otherwise, which makes it a common choice for long-term legacy planning.
Discuss a Foundation With An AdviserCommonly used for
- Wealth and estate planning across generations
- Separating family assets from personal liabilities
- Setting clear rules for succession and control of a family business
- Charitable and philanthropic initiatives
- Holding shares, real estate, IP or portfolios, including through Prescribed Companies
Typically suited to
- Individuals planning their estate and protecting assets
- Family businesses planning for continuity
- Investors structuring wealth for future generations
- Families with philanthropic goals
DIFC Family Office
A dedicated platform for managing a family’s wealth, investments, governance and philanthropy from one place. It can serve one family (a single-family office) or several unrelated families (a multi-family office).
Worth knowing: A Family Office often sits alongside other structures, such as a Holding Company or Foundation. The right scope depends on the family’s goals, complexity and scale.
Discuss a Family Office With An AdviserCommonly used for
- Bringing businesses, real estate and investments under one structure
- Family governance through charters, councils and investment committees
- Managing direct investments, private equity and alternative assets
- Coordinating cross-border estate and tax planning
- Structuring family philanthropy
Typically suited to
- High and ultra-high-net-worth families
- Family businesses separating operating companies from family wealth
- Entrepreneurs preparing for an exit or liquidity event
- Families with assets across several countries
Compare DIFC Structures
A side-by-side view to help you narrow down the options before we talk.
| Feature | Prescribed Company | Holding Company | Foundation | Family Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Asset holding and transaction structuring | Ownership and control of subsidiaries | Wealth preservation and succession | Coordinated family wealth management |
| Legal structure | Private company limited by shares | Private company limited by shares | Independent entity with no shareholders | Entity for managing family wealth |
| Ownership | 100% foreign ownership | 100% foreign ownership | No shareholders | Owned by the family |
| Governance | Shareholders and directors | Shareholders and directors | Founder, council and optional guardian | Family representatives and managers |
| Privacy | Limited public disclosure | Standard disclosure | High privacy; council not listed | High, depending on structure |
| Common uses | Shares, IP, real estate, restructuring | Regional or global subsidiary management | Succession, asset protection, philanthropy | Wealth coordination, governance, philanthropy |
| Relative cost | Lower | Moderate | Moderate | Higher, based on scope |
| Long-term fit | Transactions and asset holding | Group structuring | Long-term wealth and estate planning | Multi-generational wealth and legacy |
General guidance only. Rules change over time, and the right structure depends on your circumstances. We confirm the position for you during your consultation.
How We Advise On Your DIFC Structure
A consultative process that puts your objectives first and explains the trade-offs at every stage.
Initial Consultation
We learn about your objectives, assets, family or shareholder situation and the jurisdictions involved.
Needs Assessment
We review your current holdings, tax position and any constraints that shape the right structure.
Structure Recommendation
We set out the structure, or combination of structures, that fits best, with the trade-offs explained.
Governance Design
We help design how the structure is run: boards, councils, family charters and decision rights.
Ongoing Advisory
We review your structure as your circumstances, family or group evolve, and as rules change.
Structuring, Tax And Compliance Advice In One Place
A DIFC structure rarely stands alone. Our specialists consider the wider picture so your structure works in practice.
Tax Advisory
Corporate Tax, international tax and transfer pricing considerations for your structure and wider group.
Corporate Structuring
Group design, ownership arrangements and governance frameworks aligned with your long-term goals.
M&A Support
Due diligence and deal structuring for acquisitions, investments and reorganisations.
Ongoing Business Support
Accounting, bookkeeping and corporate governance support as your structure evolves.
Why Clients Choose Creation Business Consultants
Structuring And Tax Together
Big Four-trained tax advisors work alongside our structuring specialists, so structure and tax position are considered as one.
Advice Tailored To You
No off-the-shelf structures. Every recommendation starts with your objectives, assets and family or group situation.
Cross-Border Perspective
Offices in Dubai, the DIFC, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Hong Kong and Melbourne, and a team speaking more than 20 languages.
Proactive Guidance
We flag changes in rules and regulations that may affect your structure, so you can plan ahead.
Alongside Your Advisers
We work closely with private equity and law firms, auditors and financial advisers who seek our counsel on structuring matters.
Integrity At The Core
Clear, honest advice on what each structure can and cannot do for you, including when it isn’t the right fit.
What Our Clients Say
We have enjoyed a longstanding and highly satisfactory relationship with Creation Business Consultants. Their team has provided valuable guidance through an evolving tax and compliance landscape. Their professionalism, responsiveness, and expertise have made them a trusted partner throughout our journey.
“Creation have identified large savings and a way to decrease our corporate risks by restructuring our business. Their professional advice and in-depth understanding of corporate structuring will help our business become more profitable and grow in the future.”
“Creation stood out for being straight forward, supportive and proactive. … There was always clear communication and a client-focused approach … Furthermore, the team at Creation is completely up to date with the ever-changing local rules and regulations … and was able to provide the right guidance for what we needed.”
6x
Middle East award winner
Our team’s insights have featured in
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which DIFC structure is right for me?
What is the difference between a DIFC Prescribed Company and a Holding Company?
Is a DIFC Foundation suitable for succession and estate planning?
Do DIFC Foundations offer privacy?
How does UAE Corporate Tax affect DIFC structures?
Can a DIFC structure hold assets outside the UAE?
Do you work with our existing lawyers, auditors or financial advisers?
What happens in the first consultation?
Book A Consultation With A DIFC Structuring Adviser
Tell us a little about your objectives and a member of our advisory team will contact you to arrange a time.
- A focused conversation about your goals and current holdings
- An initial view on which DIFC structures could fit
- Clear next steps, with no obligation
Prefer to talk now? Call Dubai on +971 4 878 6240