What is a
Single Family Office?

How does an SFO differ from a multi-family office?

A single family office serves one family and its connected persons. A multi-family office (MFO) serves several unrelated families. The distinction is decisive in the DIFC: an SFO operates without a DFSA licence, whereas an MFO that provides financial services to multiple families by way of business must be licensed and supervised by the DFSA. See single vs multi-family office.

What does a single family office do?

• Investment administration and consolidated reporting across the family's assets.
• Wealth and holding structures — foundations, holding and prescribed companies, and investment vehicles.
• Succession and estate planning coordination, including wills and guardianship.
• Governance — supporting the family council, board and a family constitution.
• Administration — accounting, treasury, real estate and lifestyle management.

Does an SFO need a licence in the UAE?

No, where it serves only one family. Under the DIFC Family Arrangements Regulations, a qualifying single family office does not need a DFSA licence and does not register as a Designated Non-Financial Business or Profession (DNFBP). A licence is only required if the office provides regulated financial services to more than one family by way of business.

What net worth do you need for a single family office?

In the DIFC a family generally evidences a minimum of around USD 50 million in net assets, tested at fair market value across all family members and structures. As a practical matter, a single family office tends to become cost-efficient at roughly USD 30–50 million of investable assets; below that, a lighter holding structure may serve better.

How is a single family office structured?

An SFO is usually a layered structure: a foundation at the top for ownership and succession, a family-office management entity providing services, and holding or prescribed companies as special-purpose vehicles beneath — with a Variable Capital Company added where investment pooling is needed. See structuring a family office.

Does a DIFC single family office need a DFSA licence?

No. An SFO serving one family operates under the DIFC Family Arrangements Regulations rather than DFSA authorisation, because it manages only the family’s own wealth and offers no services to the public. It registers with the DIFC and observes the family-arrangement framework.

How much wealth justifies a single family office?

The DIFC family-arrangement regime contemplates families with at least US$50 million of net assets. In practice, families around US$100 million and above tend to find a dedicated SFO team cost-effective, while smaller families often prefer a multi-family office or outsourced model.

What does a single family office actually do?

Investment management and oversight, consolidated reporting, succession and governance administration, philanthropy and coordination of external advisers — with the scope tailored entirely to one family’s needs rather than a commercial client base.