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DIFC encourages Family Offices with new regulations

Posted: 25 June 2008

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) announced new regulations to encourage ultra-wealthy families to establish Single Family Offices (SFOs) in the DIFC.

Created in consultation with the DFSA, the new regulations specifically address the needs of family run institutions and create a platform for wealthy families to set up holding companies at the DIFC to manage private family wealth and family structures anywhere in the world

Dr Omar Bin Sulaiman, Governor of the DIFC said: ‘In recent times, family offices have become highly significant on the global economic landscape. In the Middle East, where more than 75 per cent of firms are family-run and with total assets in excess of US$1 trillion, the need for a specialized legal and regulatory framework is especially acute.

‘In contrast to conventional financial institutions, Single Family Offices (SFOs) have no direct public liability as all Single Family Offices (SFOs) shareholders are bloodline descendants of a common ancestor. As such, their regulatory requirements differ significantly. By establishing the new regulations, the DIFC is once again reaffirming its commitment to family run businesses thus addressing its desire to make the DIFC a hub for local, regional and international family offices.'

The regulations follow the establishment of the DIFC Family Office initiative, which provides comprehensive infrastructure solutions for families and family businesses operating in the region.

The DIFC Family Office was created to promote DIFC as an ideal domicile for family offices and is a further extension of the DIFC value proposition across businesses within the centre. The DIFC has now established an environment that combines a robust legal and regulatory framework with a comprehensive offering of the services that family offices require to operate successfully.

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