Family business: UAE legislation

Federal Decree-Law No. (37) of 2022 Concerning Family Businesses

Lets a company majority-owned by one family register as a family business with the Ministry of Economy, adopt a family charter on ownership, valuation and profit distribution, issue voting Category A and non-voting Category B shares, buy back up to 30% of its shares in defined cases, and resolve disputes through a reconciliation board or a dedicated committee.

ADGM Foundations Regulations 2017

Enacted 14 August 2017 under Article 6(1) of Abu Dhabi Law No. 4 of 2013, the Regulations create the ADGM foundation with any lawful non-charitable objects, a council of at least two councillors, a guardian where no founder survives, and continuance of foreign foundations; later amendments require non-exempt foundations to appoint a licensed Company Service Provider (section 18).

ADGM Trusts (Special Provisions) Regulations 2016

Supplements the English law of trusts applied in ADGM through the Application of English Law Regulations 2015 with ADGM-specific provisions, including protection of ADGM-law trusts and dispositions into trust against challenge under foreign forced-heirship or similar rules. The full text is published in the ADGM rulebook hosted by Thomson Reuters.

DIFC Variable Capital Company Regulations 2026

Made under Articles 132 and 151 of the Companies Law 2018, the Regulations create the Variable Capital Company, a private company with segregated or incorporated cells whose assets and liabilities are ring-fenced from each other; available to registered persons generally and to DFSA-authorised firms only with DFSA permission, except for crowdfunding, fund and family-office asset-holding.

DIFC Family Arrangements Regulations 2023

Made under the Companies, Foundations, partnership and Operating Laws, the Regulations repeal the Single Family Office Regulations and set up the Family Business Register, a licensing regime for Family Offices (minimum USD 50 million net assets) with a list of permitted services, certification and accreditation of family-business advisers, private register options and arbitration for family entities.

Foundations Law, DIFC Law No. 3 of 2018

Creates the DIFC foundation as a separate legal person with definite, feasible and lawful objects (charitable or not), managed by a council of at least two members, with a guardian where objects are charitable or specified non-charitable, registered and licensed by the Registrar. Consolidated Version No. 3, March 2024.

Trust Law, DIFC Law No. 4 of 2018

Repeals and replaces the Trust Law 2005 and governs the creation, variation and termination of trusts in the DIFC, the duties and powers of trustees and the rights of beneficiaries, and gives the DIFC Courts jurisdiction over DIFC trusts and certain foreign trusts. Consolidated Version No. 3, March 2024.