Protect, hold and pass on wealth through the UAE's common-law financial centres. Avyanco structures foundations, SPVs and family offices in ADGM and DIFC — for succession planning, asset protection and consolidated family-wealth governance.
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Wealth structures hold, protect and pass on private wealth through the UAE's two common-law financial centres, Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The core vehicles are foundations for succession and asset protection, special purpose vehicles (SPVs) for holding shares, property or IP, and family offices governing a family's combined affairs.
Families and entrepreneurs increasingly use the UAE to hold and protect wealth and to plan succession — and the natural home for that is the country's two common-law financial centres, Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). Both operate independent, English-common-law frameworks with their own courts and registrars, which is what makes them suited to the structures private wealth relies on.
The core vehicles are foundations (a flexible, orphan structure used for succession planning and asset protection, holding assets in its own name without shareholders), special purpose vehicles or SPVs (clean, low-substance holding companies for shares, property, IP or investments), and family offices (the governance and management structure for a family's combined affairs). Used together, they let a family consolidate ownership, ring-fence assets, set a succession plan that survives the founder, and govern it all under a respected legal system. Avyanco designs the structure, sets up the ADGM or DIFC vehicles and coordinates the legal and tax advice around them.
Which centre you choose matters. A DIFC Foundation and an ADGM Foundation sit under different registrars, courts and rulebooks, and the practical comparison across the UAE foundations regimes — including RAK ICC — is worth making before you commit rather than after. Many families also pair the foundation with a holding company, so that operating businesses and long-term family assets sit in separate vehicles with separate risk.
Three structures that do most of the work in private-wealth planning.
An orphan structure that holds assets in its own name for succession and asset protection — no shareholders, governed by its charter and by-laws.
Clean, low-substance holding vehicles for shares, real estate, IP or investment portfolios.
The governance and management structure for a family's combined wealth, business and succession affairs.
Six steps from objectives to a working structure.
We map the family's assets, jurisdictions, succession goals and protection concerns.
We design the right combination of foundation, SPVs and family office, and choose ADGM or DIFC.
We coordinate the legal drafting and tax advice — UAE and, where relevant, cross-border — around the structure.
We set up the foundation, SPVs and/or family office with the ADGM or DIFC registrar.
We help move assets into the structure and put the governance — councils, by-laws, mandates — in place.
We support the structure's ongoing compliance, filings and changes over time.
The right structure protects assets and the family's future.
Avyanco designs the structure and runs the setup — coordinating the legal and tax specialists around it.
We start from the family's objectives and design the foundation/SPV/family-office mix that meets them.
We know both common-law centres and place each vehicle where it fits best.
We coordinate UAE and cross-border tax advice so the structure is efficient and compliant.
We help put the charters, councils and mandates in place that keep the structure working across generations.
From design to registrar setup to asset transfer, the whole build is coordinated by one team.
We support the structure's compliance, filings and changes long after it is established.
Partner-level advisors coordinating structure design, ADGM/DIFC setup, legal drafting and tax.
Three things that come up in every wealth-structuring engagement.
Foundations and SPVs that ring-fence assets and carry a succession plan beyond the founder.
ADGM or DIFC, chosen for your family's assets, residence and goals — under English common law.
Family-office governance and ongoing administration that keep the structure working over time.
Foundations, SPVs and family offices are set up in the UAE's common-law financial centres.
Abu Dhabi's common-law financial centre — foundations, SPVs, family offices and funds under direct English common law.
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The region's leading financial centre — DIFC foundations, prescribed companies, family offices and a common-law court.
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Offshore holding vehicles — RAK ICC, JAFZA, BVI, Cayman and more — for international holding alongside onshore foundations.
Read moreA slice of recent feedback from families and founders who structured their wealth through Avyanco.
In so far as the emigration process can ever be made easy, Avyanco achieves exactly this.
Read more — Sheru George's review on GoogleWe are very satisfied with Avyanco's support for Nanasu Realty — especially across AML compliance, accounting, and company setup.
Read more — Purushottam Mukkundi's review on GoogleI've used the services of Avyanco twice over the past 3 years for visa processing, and they have never failed to impress me.
Read more — Dominic Pinto's review on GoogleI had an excellent experience with Avyanco Business Setup Consultancy for both my company formation and family dependent visa process in the UAE.
Read more — Eder Schaphauser Ziomek's review on GoogleWe had an excellent experience working with this company for our ADGM company setup in Abu Dhabi.
Read more — Nikhil Nadanga's review on GoogleI have been dealing with Akshta for more than a year now and she has been very professional.
Read more — Sherif Ayub's review on GoogleCommon questions about UAE foundations, SPVs and family offices.
Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) · Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)
This page describes UAE wealth structures in general terms, referring to the ADGM and DIFC common-law frameworks as understood in June 2026. Avyanco Business Consultancy LLC provides advisory and administrative services and coordinates specialist legal and tax advice; it is not a law firm and is independent of all UAE government authorities, ADGM and DIFC.
Foundation, SPV, family-office and trust regimes, their rules and their tax treatment differ between ADGM and DIFC and evolve. Wealth and succession structuring should be taken with qualified legal and tax advice; always confirm the current rules directly with ADGM, DIFC and your advisors before acting on any fact on this page.
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Speak to an Avyanco advisor about a wealth structure — foundations, SPVs and family offices in ADGM or DIFC, designed around your family's goals.
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