Asset protection.
Most residents accumulate assets in the Emirates faster than they organise them. Property in one name, company shares in another, accounts in three banks, and no document connecting any of it. The exposure is not theoretical: incapacity, death or a dispute freezes everything simultaneously, and the family discovers the structure only when they need it to work.
What it covers
Ownership structures — direct, holding company, or foundation in ADGM or RAK ICC. DIFC or ADGM wills covering succession. Powers of attorney for incapacity. Access arrangements so the family can reach funds in the first weeks. Review of how assets are titled versus how you believe they are titled.
How it works
Audit what exists and in whose name. Decide what needs to move and what stays. Draft and register the wills. Put powers of attorney in place. Establish the access arrangements. Typically six to twelve weeks end to end.
What people get wrong
Joint accounts are widely assumed to remain accessible to the surviving spouse. That assumption is unreliable in the UAE and should be tested rather than believed.
What I do
- Audit what you hold and in whose name it is actually titled
- Establish what needs to change and in what order
- Coordinate drafting and registration through lawyers
- Arrange family access to funds in the first weeks
- Keep the arrangement current as circumstances change
From AED 30,000
DIFC Wills Service registration fees and legal drafting are separate and paid directly by the client.
Common questions
Why do I need a asset protection in the UAE?
Most residents accumulate assets in the Emirates faster than they organise them.
What does it cover?
Ownership structures — direct, holding company, or foundation in ADGM or RAK ICC. DIFC or ADGM wills covering succession. Powers of attorney for incapacity. Access arrangements so the family can reach funds in the first weeks. Review of how assets are titled versus how you believe they are titled.
How does the process work?
Audit what exists and in whose name. Decide what needs to move and what stays. Draft and register the wills. Put powers of attorney in place. Establish the access arrangements. Typically six to twelve weeks end to end.
What do people get wrong?
Joint accounts are widely assumed to remain accessible to the surviving spouse. That assumption is unreliable in the UAE and should be tested rather than believed.
How much does it cost?
Coordination from AED 30,000. Registration fees at the DIFC Wills Service and legal drafting are separate and paid directly. A guardianship-only will costs less than a full will.
How long does it take?
Six to twelve weeks for a complete arrangement including drafting, review and registration. A guardianship-only will can be done considerably faster.
Reviewed by Denis Chernikov, Private Client Advisor, nine years in the UAE private client sector.
Describe your matter
Two or three sentences on the substance. I respond within one business day.