Overview
Comprehensive family office formation services delivering bespoke structures, regulatory compliance, and integrated wealth management solutions for ultra-high-net-worth families.
A DIFC Family Office provides ultra-high-net-worth families with a dedicated, regulated structure to manage, protect, and grow their wealth across generations. DIFC is one of the world's leading jurisdictions for family office formation, offering a sophisticated regulatory environment, robust asset protection laws, and access to a global network of investment managers, legal advisors, and private banks. Atlas provides end-to-end family office formation and ongoing management services tailored to each family's unique requirements.
Why Choose Atlas
Key Features & Benefits
Single & Multi-Family Office Structures
We establish both single-family offices (serving one family) and multi-family offices (serving multiple unrelated families), tailored to your scale and objectives.
Regulatory Compliance
Full compliance with DIFC Authority and Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) requirements, with ongoing regulatory reporting and governance support.
Bespoke Governance Frameworks
Custom family constitutions, investment policy statements, and governance structures that reflect the family's values, objectives, and decision-making preferences.
Integrated Wealth Management
Coordination with investment managers, private banks, tax advisors, and legal counsel to provide a seamless, integrated wealth management platform.
Succession Planning
Structures designed to facilitate smooth intergenerational wealth transfer, minimising friction, tax exposure, and family conflict.
Confidentiality & Asset Protection
DIFC's robust legal framework provides strong asset protection and confidentiality measures for family wealth and personal information.
Our Process
How We Work
Needs Assessment
We conduct a detailed assessment of the family's wealth, objectives, governance needs, and jurisdictional requirements.
Structure Design
We design a bespoke family office structure, entity type, licence category, ownership, and governance framework.
Regulatory Approval
We manage the entire DIFC and DFSA licensing process, including preparation and submission of all regulatory applications.
Governance Documentation
We draft the family constitution, investment policy statement, and all corporate governance documents.
Operational Setup
We establish banking relationships, appoint service providers, and set up the operational infrastructure of the family office.
Ongoing Management
We provide continuing compliance, corporate secretarial, and governance support to keep the family office running smoothly.
Full Service
What's Included
Everything handled, from initial advisory through to ongoing compliance and support.
Get Expert Advice
Build a lasting legacy. Let Atlas design and establish your family office in DIFC.
Our DIFC specialists are available for a free initial consultation to understand your requirements and recommend the best solution.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a single and multi-family office in the DIFC?
A single family office serves one family, while a multi-family office serves several unrelated families. The DIFC supports both, with the right structure depending on scale and objectives.
Is a DIFC family office regulated by the DFSA?
Depending on its activities, a DIFC family office may fall under DFSA oversight. Atlas advises on whether DFSA authorisation is required and manages the process.
Why set up a family office in the DIFC?
The DIFC offers a common-law framework, strong asset protection, confidentiality, and access to global banks and advisors, making it a leading jurisdiction for managing family wealth.
What can a DIFC family office do?
It can manage investments, hold assets, and coordinate succession and governance, overseeing the family's wealth across jurisdictions under one structure.
Can a family office hold the family's assets directly?
Family offices are often paired with DIFC Foundations or Prescribed Companies that hold the underlying assets, with the family office managing them.
What ongoing compliance does a DIFC family office have?
Obligations can include annual licence renewal, regulatory reporting, accounting and economic substance, all of which Atlas manages on your behalf.
Is there a minimum wealth threshold for a family office?
There is no fixed threshold; the right structure depends on the complexity of the assets and the family's goals. Atlas advises on whether a family office, foundation or a combination fits.
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