Private Wealth &
Family Office
Legal Services
私人财富与
家族办公室
法律服务
Structuring, protection, and succession across the world's leading jurisdictions. UAE · Cayman Islands · British Virgin Islands · Panama · Jersey · Guernsey · Mauritius · Seychelles
全球领先司法管辖区的架构、保护与继承规划。
跨全球主要司法管辖区的架构、保护与传承规划。阿联酋 · 开曼群岛 · 英属维尔京群岛 · 巴拿马 · 泽西 · 根西 · 毛里求斯 · 塞舌尔
The world's premier
destination for private wealth.
全球首选的
私人财富目的地
全球顶级
私人财富目的地
The UAE has rapidly become the premier destination for UHNW relocation, family office establishment, and multi-jurisdictional wealth structuring. Our Dubai base places us at the centre of the region's fastest-growing wealth hub — with direct capability across every major offshore structuring jurisdiction.
阿联酋已迅速成为全球超高净值人士的首选目的地——零个人所得税、世界一流的基础设施、战略性的地理位置和日益完善的财富法律框架。
阿联酋已迅速成为超高净值人士迁居、家族办公室设立及多司法管辖区财富架构的首选目的地。我们的迪拜基地使我们处于该地区发展最快的财富中心——并直接覆盖所有主要离岸架构司法管辖区。
Our core differentiator is legal professional privilege. As a law firm, every engagement is protected by solicitor-client privilege — a protection that accountants, wealth managers, and compliance consultants cannot provide.
我们的核心差异化优势是律师-客户法律专业特权。作为一家法律事务所，我们的每次委托都受到保密保护——账户师、财富管理师或合规顾问无法提供这一保护。
我们的核心优势是法律专业保密特权。作为律师事务所，每项委托均受律师-客户保密特权保护——这是会计师、财富管理师和合规顾问无法提供的保护。
UAE Advantages
阿联酋优势
- 0% personal income tax on salary, dividends, capital gains and inheritance
- 9% corporate tax with 0% QFZP structures available for qualifying free zone entities
- Golden Visa — 10-year renewable residency for investors and professionals
- DIFC, ADGM & DMCC — world-class common law financial free zones
- VARA regulation — the world's most advanced virtual asset jurisdiction
- Strategic location connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa
- 个人所得税、股息、资本利得及遗产税均为0%
- 9%企业税，符合条件的自由区实体可享受0%优惠税率
- 黄金签证——投资者和专业人士可获10年可续签居留
- DIFC、ADGM和DMCC——世界级普通法金融自由区
- VARA监管——全球最先进的虚拟资产司法管辖区
Six signature packages.
One integrated engagement.
六大核心服务
一体化专业委托
Each engagement represents a complete legal engagement — not a collection of disconnected services. All engagements are scoped and priced following an initial complimentary consultation.
每个套餐代表完整的法律委托，而非零散服务的组合。所有套餐均在初次免费咨询后进行范围确定和报价。
Designed for high net worth individuals and families relocating to Dubai. Covers every legal dimension of a clean, tax-efficient, and asset-protected UAE establishment — from residency to holding structure to succession.
专为迁居迪拜的高净值个人和家庭设计。涵盖税务高效、资产保护的阿联酋设立的每一个法律维度——从居留到持股架构到继承规划。
Ideal for: Entrepreneurs, executives, and investors relocating to Dubai from Europe, Asia, Australia, or the broader MENA region.
适合：从欧洲、亚洲、澳大利亚或更广泛MENA地区迁居迪拜的企业家、高管和投资者。
Common Add-Ons: BVI/Cayman holdco layer · Real estate SPV · VARA virtual asset structuring · 1-year compliance retainer
What This Covers
服务内容
- UAE Golden Visa application (investor or real estate basis)
- Family member Golden Visa sponsorship
- UAE tax residency certificate application
- DIFC or DMCC Prescribed Company / UAE Holding Co. setup
- Corporate bank account opening support & KYC package
- UAE Will registration (DIFC or ADGM) for non-Muslims
- Initial UAE Corporate Tax residency analysis
- Onshore vs free zone employment structure advice
- 阿联酋黄金签证申请（投资者或房产基础）
- 家庭成员黄金签证担保
- 阿联酋税务居民证申请
- DIFC或DMCC规定公司/阿联酋控股公司设立
- 企业银行开户支持及KYC文件包
- 遗嘱登记（DIFC或ADGM，非穆斯林适用）
Our flagship UHNW offering. A fully integrated, multi-jurisdictional holding, trust, and succession structure built around your family's specific asset profile, tax residency, and generational objectives.
我们的旗舰超高净值服务。围绕您家族的具体资产状况、税务居留和代际目标，构建完全整合的多司法管辖区持股、信托和继承架构。
Ideal for: UHNW families with AED 20M+ in assets, multi-country footprint, or succession planning requirements.
适合：资产超过2000万迪拉姆、具有多国布局或有继承规划需求的超高净值家族。
What This Covers
服务内容
- Family office vehicle establishment (DMCC, DIFC or ADGM SPV)
- Offshore holding company — BVI, Cayman, or Mauritius
- Discretionary trust with Letter of Wishes
- Private Trust Company (PTC) or Protector structure
- UAE Corporate Tax analysis — QFZP eligibility assessment
- CRS/FATCA compliance review and disclosure structuring
- Family Constitution and governance framework
- Golden Visa applications for principal and immediate family
- Succession and estate planning memorandum
- 家族办公室载体设立（DMCC、DIFC或ADGM特殊目的机构）
- 离岸控股公司——BVI、开曼或毛里求斯
- 全权信托及意向书
- 私人信托公司（PTC）或保护人架构
- CRS/FATCA合规审查及信息披露架构
Purpose-built for clients seeking to ring-fence assets from personal liability, litigation risk, or forced heirship claims. Deploys proven offshore structures across BVI, Cayman, Panama, and Jersey.
BVI、开曼和其他离岸控股公司设立。多司法管辖区架构。资产保护。CRS/FATCA合规审查和重组。
专为寻求将资产与个人责任、诉讼风险或强制继承权主张隔离的客户设计。在BVI、开曼、巴拿马和泽西部署经过验证的离岸架构。
Ideal for: Business owners, professionals with personal liability exposure, clients in high-litigation environments.
What This Covers
- BVI Business Company or Cayman Exempted Company incorporation
- Panama Foundation for additional beneficiary layer
- Asset transfer documentation and legal title restructuring
- Forced heirship analysis and mitigation strategy
- Trust or foundation overlay for asset protection
- Legal opinion on enforceability across target jurisdictions
- AML/KYC package for all entities
- BVI商业公司或开曼豁免公司注册
- 巴拿马基金会作为额外受益人层
- 资产转移文件及法律所有权重组
- 强制继承分析及缓解策略
The first law firm package purpose-built for HNWIs and family offices with significant virtual asset holdings. Integrates crypto wealth into your broader legal structure — covering custody, succession, tax treatment, and regulatory compliance under VARA.
Ideal for: Crypto-native HNWIs, early-stage investors with significant token portfolios, family offices allocating to digital assets.
What This Covers
- Virtual asset holding company structure (UAE or offshore)
- Custody arrangements — institutional and self-custody legal frameworks
- Crypto succession plan and digital asset Will provisions
- VARA activity analysis — licensing obligations assessment
- UAE Corporate Tax treatment of virtual asset holdings
- Token holding structure for pre-TGE or early-stage positions
Establishes the correct legal vehicle for UAE and international real estate acquisition — avoiding direct personal ownership where it creates tax, succession, or liability exposure.
Ideal for: HNWIs acquiring UAE investment property, families building a real estate portfolio, international investors purchasing in Dubai.
What This Covers
- UAE SPV incorporation for property holding (LLC or free zone)
- Offshore holdco layer — BVI or Cayman (if required)
- Mortgage and finance documentation review
- Property succession and inheritance structure
- Developer agreement and SPA review
- UAE Corporate Tax — real estate income analysis
For family offices requiring continuous legal counsel across their operations — not project-by-project engagements. Neo Legal functions as your embedded general counsel.
Ideal for: Established family offices with 3+ entities, active investment programmes, or ongoing regulatory and compliance obligations.
What This Covers
- Up to 15 hours legal advisory per month (all practice areas)
- Annual structure review and compliance health-check
- Regulatory change monitoring and impact briefings
- Priority response — 4 hour SLA for urgent matters
- Quarterly strategy call with senior partner
- UBO, ESR, and ongoing compliance maintenance
Direct capability across
every major jurisdiction.
直接覆盖
所有主要司法管辖区
Neo Legal advises across all major private wealth and offshore structuring jurisdictions. Our capability is direct — not reliant on referral networks or correspondent firms for core advice.
- DIFC Prescribed Companies
- ADGM SPVs
- Onshore LLCs & Free Zones
- VARA-regulated VASPs
- Golden Visa & UAE Wills
- Exempted Companies
- STAR Trusts & Purpose Trusts
- Exempted LPs
- Regulated & Unregulated Funds
- Private Trust Companies
- BVI Business Companies
- VISTA Trusts
- Approved Managers
- Fund formation
- Panama Foundations
- Private Interest Foundations
- Corporations
- Discretionary & Fixed Trusts
- Foundations
- Private equity & family funds
- Reserved powers structures
- Global Business Companies (GBC)
- Authorised Companies
- Treaty structuring for India & Africa
- International Business Companies
- Foundation structures
- Nominee arrangements
- Liechtenstein Foundations (Stiftung)
- Anstalts
- European family & philanthropic structures
DIFC vs ADGM vs DMCC
family office frameworks.
DIFC、ADGM与DMCC
家族办公室框架对比
The three UAE jurisdictions where UHNW families typically anchor their family office. Each suits different governance preferences, asset profiles and operational priorities.
阿联酋三大家族办公室司法管辖区比较。每个框架适合不同的治理偏好、资产状况和运营优先事项。
| Dimension | DIFC | ADGM | DMCC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal framework | DIFC common law + DFSA regulator | English common law (as it stands) + FSRA regulator | UAE federal law + DMCC free-zone framework |
| Single Family Office regime | SFO Regulations (revised 2024) | FSRA SFO framework | DMCC SFO licence |
| Foundation | DIFC Foundation Law (mature, widely used) | ADGM Foundation regime | Not available — uses DIFC/ADGM Foundation alongside |
| Minimum AUM threshold | ~USD 50M typical | ~USD 50M typical | Lower threshold; flexible |
| Cost profile | Premium | Premium | Mid-tier |
| Banking ecosystem | Deepest UAE banking | Strong, growing | Standard UAE banking |
| Sovereign-orbit positioning | Dubai gov / DIFC ecosystem | Abu Dhabi gov / sovereign-fund proximity | Commercial, broad-base |
| Best for | UHNW families with deep banking needs and DIFC-centric advisers | Families orbiting Abu Dhabi sovereign capital and asset-management ecosystem | Smaller pools, cost-sensitive, or operational simplicity |
Indicative comparison. The optimal choice depends on banking strategy, asset profile, succession framework and family-specific preferences — we recommend a 60-minute consultation before selecting jurisdiction.
Designed for
time-constrained clients.
专为时间宝贵的客户设计
Most structures can be initiated within one week of instruction and completed within the timeframes stated in each package.
Begin your engagement
with a complimentary consultation.
立即开始
免费咨询
Schedule your complimentary 60-minute consultation with a Neo Legal Managing Partner. Email: admin@neolegal.ae · Phone: +971585786357
预约与Neo Legal管理合伙人的免费60分钟咨询。邮箱：admin@neolegal.ae · 电话：+971585786357
Schedule Consultation预约咨询All Practice AreasAnswers to the questions
clients actually ask.
The questions below are answered by Neo Legal practitioners. For tailored advice on your specific matter, please contact us directly.
Does Sharia law apply to a non-Muslim's estate in the UAE if they die without a will?
Without a registered UAE Will, UAE inheritance law — which includes Sharia principles for certain asset classes — may apply to a deceased person's UAE-situated assets, regardless of their nationality or religion. This means bank accounts can be frozen, real estate may be distributed contrary to the deceased's wishes, and family members may not receive the inheritance they expected. Non-Muslims can avoid this by registering a Will through the DIFC Wills Service Centre or the ADGM Wills Registration Service, both of which apply common law succession principles.
What is the difference between a DIFC Will and an ADGM Will?
Both the DIFC Wills Service Centre and the ADGM Wills Registration Service allow non-Muslims to register Wills that override UAE Sharia succession rules and apply common law principles. DIFC has the larger established registry and covers all assets situated in Dubai (including mainland Dubai). ADGM covers Abu Dhabi assets. For individuals with assets in both emirates, a combination of both registries may be appropriate. Both are recognised by UAE courts and financial institutions. Neo Legal advises on the right structure for each client's asset profile and prepares the relevant documentation.
What minimum assets are required to establish a DIFC Family Office?
The DIFC requires family offices to demonstrate aggregate net assets of at least USD 50 million (raised from USD 10 million under previous rules). ADGM has similar thresholds for its regulated family office framework. For families below these thresholds, alternative structures including DIFC Prescribed Companies, UAE holding companies, DMCC Single Family Office licences, and appropriate offshore vehicles can achieve similar wealth structuring objectives without the full family office regulatory requirement.
What is a UAE Golden Visa and what investment is required to qualify?
The UAE Golden Visa is a 10-year renewable residency visa that does not require an employer sponsor and allows holders to maintain residency without minimum days-in-country requirements. Investment pathways include UAE property purchase of at least AED 2 million, business ownership meeting value thresholds, and professional qualification categories (doctors, engineers, lawyers, scientists, and other recognised professions). Golden Visa holders can sponsor immediate family members, including spouses, children, and in many cases parents.
What is the difference between a trust and a foundation for UAE wealth structuring?
A trust is a legal arrangement under which assets are held by a trustee for the benefit of beneficiaries, governed by trust law. Both DIFC and ADGM offer trust frameworks based on English common law. A foundation is an independent legal entity — similar to a company but with no shareholders — that holds and manages assets for defined purposes or beneficiaries. Foundations are particularly useful for succession planning, philanthropy, and family governance because they can hold assets indefinitely without a separate trustee. The right structure depends on the family's succession objectives, jurisdictional considerations, and asset profile.
How does UAE Corporate Tax affect existing family wealth structures?
The UAE introduced a 9% corporate tax applicable from June 2023 (for financial years ending on or after December 2023). The tax applies to corporate entities including family holding companies but generally does not apply to individuals' personal income, dividends received by individuals, or capital gains on personal investments. The key structuring question for family offices is whether assets are best held in personal names (generally tax-free) or corporate vehicles (subject to the 9% rate on profits). Existing structures established before June 2023 should be reviewed for ongoing tax efficiency.
What is the UAE's approach to forced heirship for non-Muslims?
UAE law has historically applied Sharia-based forced heirship rules to UAE-situated assets — meaning that a fixed portion of an estate must pass to certain family members (spouse, children, parents) regardless of what the deceased's Will says. For non-Muslims who register Wills through DIFC or ADGM, these forced heirship rules are overridden and the Will is applied in full. For Muslims, Sharia rules continue to apply to UAE assets. Offshore trust structures can also be used to ring-fence assets from local succession laws, subject to careful legal structuring.
Is there inheritance tax or capital gains tax in the UAE?
There is no inheritance tax, capital gains tax, or wealth tax in the UAE at the personal level. This is one of the UAE's primary attractions for UHNW individuals and families. Corporate entities are subject to the 9% corporate tax on profits, but there is no exit tax, no transfer tax on gifts to family members, and no annual wealth tax. However, individuals relocating from countries with inheritance or capital gains taxes (such as the UK or Australia) must carefully manage their departure from the home country tax system to ensure these taxes do not continue to apply to UAE gains and disposals.