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Choosing the Right Structure for Dubai Property For families holding real estate in Dubai, trusts and DIFC Foundations can both separate day-to-day asset ownership from personal succession, but they operate in different ways. A trust is a legal relationship in which trustees hold and manage assets for beneficiaries. By contrast, a DIFC Foundation is a separate legal person that owns assets in its own name and is governed by a Council under its Charter and By-laws.  For Dubai real estate, direct ownership through a trust may be less straightforward and often involves an SPV. A DIFC Foundation can hold eligible Dubai property, subject to Dubai Land Department acceptance, registration and applicable fees.  Succession and Family Continuity A key advantage of a Foundation is the ability to establish clear rules around ownership, income, distributions, voting, control and succession. This can be particularly useful where several properties or family businesses need to remain under one ownership structure.  If property remains personally owned at death, it may enter probate, become divided among heirs or create co-ownership and potential delays. Where relevant, Sharia inheritance principles may also apply. Transferring property into a valid Foundation during the owner’s lifetime may help preserve continuity because the Foundation remains the legal owner after death.  However, a Foundation is not an automatic way to override heirs’ rights. Its effectiveness depends on factors including domicile, religion, transfer timing, local property law, creditor claims and conflict-of-laws rules.  Outlook For property-owning families, succession planning is becoming an increasingly important part of long-term real estate strategy. DIFC Foundations may be especially suitable for complex family ownership structures, but each arrangement should be reviewed carefully with coordinated DIFC, DLD, succession, Sharia and tax advice before any transfer takes place.  The contents of this article were contributed by Haroon Anwar, Head of Global Wealth Management. Download to see insights from other country marketsDownload

Dubai Office Market Remains Strong Dubai’s commercial real estate market continues to show strong momentum, particularly in high-quality office assets. Rental-contract registrations rose 24.6% year-on-year in Q2 2026, while Dubai recorded 38,082 office leasing transactions, up 4% from the previous quarter. Office occupancy also remained high at around 94%. Demand is being driven by financial services, technology companies, regional headquarters and other businesses seeking modern, efficient and well-connected Grade-A office space. Investor activity remains equally strong. Off-plan office sales reached AED 13.1 billion across 1,668 transactions in H1 2026, with Business Bay accounting for approximately 52% of total sales value.  Prime Assets Continue to Outperform Dubai office rents increased 13% year-on-year in Q2, while prime office rents rose by 16%. Pricing has also strengthened in key locations. Average Downtown Dubai office values reached AED 5,130 per sq ft at the end of 2025, representing a 29% annual increase. Broader investor confidence remains robust. Dubai recorded AED 252 billion in total real estate transactions in Q1 2026, while foreign real estate investment climbed 26% year-on-year to AED 148.35 billion. However, the opportunity is becoming increasingly asset-specific. Around 24.2 million sq ft of new office supply is scheduled for delivery between 2026 and 2030, which could gradually moderate rental and price growth. Outlook Dubai’s commercial property outlook remains positive, but investors may need to become more selective as new supply enters the market. The strongest opportunities are likely to remain in prime locations with metro connectivity, strong tenants, efficient layouts, professional building management and visible rental income. Rather than relying on broad market momentum, the focus is increasingly shifting towards durable income and the scarcity of quality Grade-A offices. The contents of this article were contributed by Haroon Anwar, Head of Global Wealth Management. Download to see insights from other country marketsDownload

Dubai’s Appeal Extends Beyond Residency Dubai’s role as a global wealth hub is not limited to people who live there. Non-resident entrepreneurs, expatriate families and international investors can use the city to coordinate banking, investments, real estate exposure, succession planning and family governance across several jurisdictions. Its appeal comes from a combination of global connectivity, tax efficiency, institutional depth and access to an established network of banks, asset managers, trustees, insurers and professional advisers. Dubai is already home to 81,200 resident millionaires, while its millionaire population increased by 102% between 2014 and 2024. The UAE was also projected to record a net inflow of 9,800 millionaires in 2025, reflecting its growing importance in global wealth migration.  A Structured Platform for Cross-Border Wealth Managing international wealth involves more than investment returns. Families must also consider custody, tax reporting, source-of-wealth documentation, succession planning, liquidity, currency exposure and regulatory accountability. Licensed Dubai-based providers can help organise and supervise these responsibilities through a more structured platform. They can also support the protection and transfer of assets while working alongside legal and tax advisers in the investor’s home jurisdiction. The Dubai International Financial Centre, or DIFC, strengthens this ecosystem with more than 500 wealth and asset management entities, 1,289 family-related entities and 1,115 DIFC-based foundations. Regulatory protection is another important factor. Firms authorised by the Dubai Financial Services Authority are required to safeguard client assets, giving international families greater confidence when managing wealth through Dubai. Outlook Dubai is likely to remain attractive to investors seeking a neutral and internationally connected base for wealth management. As cross-border portfolios become more complex, demand should continue growing for regulated platforms that combine investment access, family governance and long-term succession planning. Download to see insights from other country marketsDownload

Dubai’s DIFC Foundations Gain Relevance for Global Wealth Planning As international families build wealth across multiple countries, asset protection and succession planning are becoming more complex. Many families now hold real estate, investment portfolios, private company shares and business interests across several jurisdictions. Without a proper structure, transferring these assets between generations can become costly, fragmented and difficult to manage. This is where DIFC Foundations are becoming increasingly relevant. A DIFC Foundation is a separate legal entityestablished within the Dubai International Financial Centre. Unlike a traditional trust, the Foundation can own assets directly in its own name, offering families clearer governance, better transparency and a structure that is easier to administer. For globally mobile families, this structure can help consolidate ownership of international real estate portfolios, private company shares, investment assets, intellectual property and other family assets under one vehicle. Why Families Use DIFC Foundations The main appeal lies in succession planning, asset protection and long-term family governance. By using a DIFC Foundation, families can reduce probate and inheritance complications while creating a clearer framework for preserving wealth across generations. For Muslim families, DIFC Foundations can also support Sharia-sensitive succession and governance objectives. The Foundation Charter and By-Laws can be tailored to reflect the family’s values, wishes and inheritance philosophy, while still benefiting from DIFC’s internationally recognised legal framework. Typical setup costs may range from USD 8,000 to USD 20,000, with annual administration and maintenance costs often ranging between USD 3,000 and USD 10,000. These structures are generally most suitable for families with investable assets of at least USD 1 million, with stronger value for portfolios above USD 3 million to USD 5 million. Outlook In 2026, wealth preservation is no longer only about investment returns. For global families, the priority is structure, continuity and control. DIFC Foundations are likely to remain an important planning tool for families seeking long-term certainty across multiple markets and generations. Download to see insights from other country marketsDownload