Smart Zones® - Your UAE Entry Partner
Business • Residency • Banking • Wealth • Investment
Smart Zones® - Your UAE Entry Partner
Business • Residency • Banking • Wealth • Investment
DIFC Trust Formation, Dubai, UAE
A common law trust structure, registered exclusively within the Dubai International Financial Centre, that protects your assets, bypasses probate, and lets you decide in writing exactly who receives what.
Free, no-obligation consultation on structure and cost.
A trust in Dubai can be established in the DIFC or other applicable jurisdictions, depending on the structure and requirements. It is available to eligible individuals of various nationalities, subject to the relevant regulations. Contact Smart Zones® UAE for tailored guidance on setup, taxation, and eligibility.
Why It Matters
A DIFC trust gives you a legally recognised way to hold and pass on assets outside of UAE inheritance law by default, with full control over how and when beneficiaries receive what you've built.
The Case For a Trust
Six reasons foreign residents and investors choose a DIFC trust over a standard will or holding structure.
A trust creates a legal separation between your personal assets and those held in the trust, shielding them from future creditors, legal judgments and unforeseen liabilities. Beneficiaries receive exactly what was intended.
Trusts bypass probate entirely, avoiding a process that can be slow and expensive, and let you maintain control over how assets are distributed even after you're gone.
Zero income or capital gains tax on trusts in the UAE. Depending on your home country's rules, this can mean substantial savings.
Trust structures and beneficiary details are kept confidential by default, protecting sensitive financial information.
Build a revocable, irrevocable, discretionary or other structure that flexes around your specific circumstances.
Structures Available
Designed to benefit designated charitable causes.
Built for private wealth management and asset distribution.
Clearly defined, with explicitly stated terms and conditions.
Used to safeguard assets for designated beneficiaries.
The Legal Backbone
Seven elements must be present for a Dubai trust deed to be valid and enforceable.
A clear, unequivocal statement by the settlor expressing their intention to establish the trust.
Explicit identification of who is intended to benefit, or a defined mechanism for identifying them later.
A detailed description of the assets being transferred, precise enough for unambiguous determination.
Specified as a fixed term or perpetual. Where no timeframe is stated, the trust is treated as lifelong.
A unique, recognisable name assigned to the trust.
Designation of who manages the trust assets and fulfils its responsibilities.
A clear definition of the trustee's authority to manage assets and carry out fiduciary duties.
Legal source: DIFC Trust Law, DIFC Law No. 11 of 2005, enacted 9 November 2005 and amended by DIFC Law No. 2 of 2007 and DIFC Law No. 1 of 2010. See the DIFC legal database for the current consolidated text.
Getting Started
A formally drafted will outlines the terms and conditions for asset distribution upon the settlor's passing, creating the trust through the succession process itself.
A written document that details the trust's purpose, assets, beneficiaries and the trustee's responsibilities, taking effect immediately rather than on death.
Budgeting
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Setup cost | Approx. AED 6,000 to 9,000 |
| Nationality requirement | Open to any nationality |
| Residency requirement | Not required |
| Governing law | DIFC Trust Law No. 11 of 2005 |
Our Story
Smart Zones® UAE has helped more than 45,000 clients worldwide set up, relocate and protect their interests across the UAE, backed by 13+ years of experience in company formation, residency, banking and family trust formation.
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The trust formation process was seamless from start to finish. Highly recommend Smart Zones UAE.
Professional, transparent, and fast. Exactly what I needed for my family's estate planning.
Clear guidance throughout and no hidden costs. Would use them again.
Responsive team and a genuinely smooth setup process from our first call to licence in hand.
Handled everything remotely for us with zero surprises on cost. Would use them again without hesitation.
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Smart Zones® - Your UAE Entry Partner
Business • Residency • Banking • Wealth • Investment