Jurisdictions · United Arab Emirates
Family Office in Dubai (DMCC): Rules, Costs and Tax in 2026
DMCC is a Dubai free zone run by the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre Authority (DMCCA), with more than 26,000 member companies. Families use it for single and multi-family office licences under the DMCC Family Office Rules, in force since 10 October 2024, and for SPVs and holding companies. On 23 September 2026 DMCC announced Foundations Regulations for DMCC Foundations, with onboarding to follow. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Best for: Families with at least USD 1 million in investible or liquid assets who want a single family office company for non-regulated, non-financial services in a Dubai free zone.
At a glance
| Licence | SFO licence for a DMCC Free Zone LLC from the DMCCA; non-regulated services only |
|---|---|
| Minimum wealth | USD 1 million in investible or liquid assets when applying |
| Who counts as family | Descendants of a common parent or spouse, down to three generations, with spouses |
| Serving several families | MFO licence, no asset minimum, DMCCA approval for each family; non-regulated services only |
| Law and courts | DMCC rules; Dubai Courts by default (reported), DIFC Courts by contract clause reported |
| Substance | No minimum workforce; lease or freehold needed; 0% tax status needs adequate substance |
| Holding vehicles | Company, SPV, holding company, foundation (2026, not yet open); no trust law found |
| Corporate tax | UAE corporate tax: 0% up to AED 375,000, 9% above |
| Family office tax | No family office regime; 0% only on qualifying income, not unregulated wealth management |
| Personal income tax | None |
| Inheritance tax | None in the official UAE list of taxes |
| Wills and succession | Non-Muslim wills with the DIFC Courts Wills Service; ADGM Courts option |
| Residence | 10-year Golden Visa from AED 2 million in property or investments |
| Time to set up | Around 10 working days, per DMCC |
| Official fees | Standard company: AED 9,020 registration, AED 20,285 a year licence; no SFO fee listed |
Compare: DMCC vs DIFC · DMCC vs ADGM · DMCC vs Saudi Arabia · DMCC vs Singapore · DMCC vs Hong Kong · DMCC vs GIFT City · DMCC vs Switzerland · DMCC vs UK · DMCC vs Luxembourg · DMCC vs Mauritius · DMCC vs USA · DMCC vs Monaco · DMCC vs Liechtenstein · DMCC vs Malta · DMCC vs QFC · DMCC vs Bahrain · DMCC vs Cyprus · DMCC vs Jersey · DMCC vs Greece · DMCC vs Guernsey · DMCC vs Italy · DMCC vs Forest City · DMCC vs Germany · DMCC vs Portugal · DMCC vs Spain · DMCC vs France · DMCC vs South Africa · DMCC vs Canada · DMCC vs Australia · DMCC vs Ireland · DMCC vs Turkey · DMCC vs Japan · DMCC vs Cayman Islands · DMCC vs Bahamas · DMCC vs BVI · DMCC vs Bermuda
Licence and who qualifies
How is a family office licensed in Dubai (DMCC)?
A single family office is a DMCC Free Zone Limited Liability Company (not a branch) with an SFO Licence from the DMCCA, under the DMCC Family Office Rules and Licensing Rules in force since 10 October 2024, which codified DMCC's existing SFO practice (DMCC announced a 'new license structure' for SFOs on 15 December 2022). DMCC's official summary of the rules describes SFO services as 'non-regulated, non-financial services' for one family and says neither SFOs nor MFOs can provide financial services regulated by the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA); the rules text published by Shushin defines the SFO activity more widely, as 'the provision of financial and non-financial services' to the family for holding or investing its assets or for succession or legacy planning. The applicant may not hold any other active DMCC licence, and its name must end in 'SFO DMCC'. SFO and MFO licence holders are kept on a confidential private register, separate from the public register of DMCC entities. [2, 3, 7, 8, 9]
What is the minimum wealth for a family office in Dubai (DMCC)?
'An applicant for an SFO license must hold a minimum of USD 1 million in investible or liquid assets' (DMCC summary of the Family Office Rules, 10 October 2024). In the rules text published by Shushin, this is one of the criteria the applicant must meet 'at the time of the submission of their application'; no source opened says the amount must be kept after licensing, although a licensed family office must comply with the rules 'on an ongoing basis'. DMCC's SFO guidelines ask for proof through a letter from a regulated financial institution, or bank statements or an equivalent document. HAS Law Firm (March 2026) reports the same figure. [2, 7, 10, 11]
Who counts as family?
DMCC's official summary of the 2024 Family Office Rules says the family goes 'down to three generations from the common parent or spouse' and includes future descendants and spouses of family members; the rules text published by Shushin adds adoptees and widows and widowers, whether or not remarried. The SFO's shareholders, ultimate beneficiaries and directors must all be members of that family, and it may serve only that family; where the SFO is a subsidiary of a trust, trustees or fiduciaries may be directors (published rules text and DMCC's SFO guidelines). DMCC's older, undated SFO guidelines word the test differently: 'direct descendants of a common parent or their spouses, which can go up to three preceding generations', including adopted children. [2, 7, 10]
Can one office serve several families?
Since 10 October 2024 DMCC has issued a Multi Family Office licence, with no minimum asset requirement, but the DMCCA must give prior written approval for each family served. DMCC describes MFO services as the same non-regulated, non-financial services as an SFO, provided to more than one family, and says neither SFOs nor MFOs can provide financial services regulated by the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority. The rules text published by Shushin bars an MFO from 'Restricted Financial Services', defined by reference to SCA Decision No. 13/RM/2021, and DMCC's Wealth Hub page states that 'DMCC does not provide any services authorised or supervised by a financial services regulator'. [2, 3, 5, 7]
Law, substance and vehicles
Which law and courts apply?
The DMCCA issues its own company, licensing, family office and foundation rules for the DMCC Free Zone; the Foundations Regulations cite Dubai Law No. 3 of 2020 as their basis. DMCC has no courts of its own: a legal commentary by Shantanu Mukherjee on Muhami (June 2025) says the UAE civil law system applies and disputes involving DMCC entities default to the onshore Dubai Courts unless the parties agree otherwise. DMCC says any member can put a DIFC Courts clause in its commercial contracts, and the DMCC Foundations Regulations define the court for foundations as the DIFC court or another competent court that the DMCCA specifies. [1, 3, 12, 13]
Reported by the sources named, not confirmed by an official source.
What substance is required?
DMCC's family office page states 'No minimum workforce requirement'. Under the Licensing Rules a licence needs a valid lease or freehold in the company's name, business must be carried on in or from the Free Zone, and renewal needs audited financial statements. For the 0% corporate tax rate, DMCC lists 'maintaining adequate substance, complying with transfer pricing regulations, and keeping audited financial statements'. [3, 6, 14]
Which holding vehicles are available?
Free Zone Limited Liability Company limited by shares, Company Limited by Guarantee (Regulations 2024), SPV and holding company licences, SFO and MFO licences, and the DMCC Foundation (DMCCA Foundations Regulations 2026, initial assets from USD 100). The Foundations Regulations protect transfers to a foundation from foreign forced-heirship rules. The regulations come into force on 'the effective date notified by DMCCA', and no notified date was found. DMCC said on 23 September 2026 that foundation onboarding would launch 'in the coming weeks', Cavenwell reported on 8 October 2026 that it had not yet started, and on 19 October 2026 DMCC's foundations page still only invited people to 'register your interest'. No DMCC trust law was found, and an SFO or MFO may not act as trustee. [2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 15, 16, 17]
Tax
What is the corporate tax rate?
UAE corporate tax applies for financial years starting on or after 1 June 2023: 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above that. DMCC calls itself 'a qualified Free Zone' and says all DMCC entities must register for corporate tax. Holdings of at least 5%, held for at least 12 months, can qualify for the participation exemption if the other conditions are met. [14, 18, 19, 20, 21]
Are there tax incentives for family offices?
No tax regime specific to family offices was found. A Qualifying Free Zone Person pays 0% on qualifying income and 9% on other taxable income if it keeps adequate substance, follows transfer pricing rules, keeps audited financial statements and keeps non-qualifying revenue below the lower of AED 5 million or 5% of revenue. Qualifying activities (Ministerial Decision 229 of 2025) include holding shares for at least 12 months, headquarter services to related parties, and treasury and financing for related parties or for its own account, while wealth and fund management count only if subject to the regulatory oversight of a UAE competent authority. The Federal Tax Authority's public clarification CTP008 (September 2025) says a free zone SFO or MFO can get 0% only on qualifying income, and that if it 'only holds a licence without the regulatory oversight of the Competent Authority', its wealth and fund management services are not qualifying activities; CTP008 does not name DMCC, and DMCC describes family office services as non-regulated. A family foundation can apply to the Federal Tax Authority to be treated as tax transparent if it meets the conditions in the law. [2, 14, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26]
Is there personal income tax?
The UAE does not levy income tax on individuals. An individual is subject to corporate tax only on business turnover above AED 1 million a year, and wages, personal investment income and real estate investment income are excluded. [27, 28, 29]
Is there inheritance or estate tax?
No inheritance, estate or gift tax appears in the official UAE government list of taxes, which covers VAT, excise tax, corporate tax, a Dubai tax on foreign banks and hospitality charges. DMCC's Wealth Hub page states '0% personal income, wealth, and inheritance tax'; no tax authority page saying 'no inheritance tax' in those words was found. [5, 27, 28]
Succession and residence
How do wills and succession work?
Non-Muslims aged 18 or over who own UAE assets or have minor children living in the UAE can register a will with the DIFC Courts Wills Service (DMCC's own page says 21 or over), and DMCC offers members a 'Business Owners Will' through it covering up to five shareholdings in free zone or UAE onshore companies. The ADGM Courts Notary Public also notarises non-Muslim wills for assets in the UAE (AED 950 to the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department plus USD 155). Since 1 February 2023, federal law for non-Muslims lets a will cover all UAE assets and, without a will, gives half of the estate to the surviving spouse and half to the children, unless the person asks for the law of their home country. [1, 30, 31, 32, 33]
Can the family get residence?
The UAE Golden Residence gives 10-year residence to real estate investors with UAE property worth at least AED 2 million (a loan from an approved local bank is allowed) and to investors with at least AED 2 million in public investments. Public investments can be a deposit with an investment fund or a national bank in the UAE, or company capital or a partner's share, and this money must not come from a loan. Holders can sponsor spouses, children regardless of age and parents. [34, 35]
Time and fees
How long does set-up take?
Indicative: DMCC's family office page says the process 'takes around 10 working days' (online pre-approval, payment and signing, choosing an office, then an e-licence), checked 19 October 2026. The SFO guidelines add a DMCC management approval step before the full application, with no time stated. [6, 10]
What are the official fees?
Indicative, DMCC Schedule of Charges (no version date, checked 19 October 2026). Its 'Company Setup Standard Pricing' lists AED 1,035 application, AED 9,020 registration and AED 2,020 Articles of Association, then AED 20,285 a year for the licence and AED 1,825 a year for the establishment card. Other lines of the same schedule show AED 1,015, AED 9,000 and AED 2,000 for the first three, and the schedule says all charges are subject to an AED 20 Knowledge and Innovation Dirham fee, without saying whether the set-up prices already include it. The schedule lists no separate fee for a family office licence, SPV or foundation, licence fees may vary if more activities are added, and DMCC says fees may change without prior notice. A flexi desk costs AED 16,000 to 19,000, paid upfront. [36]
Pros and cons
Pros
- Low entry bar: USD 1 million in investible or liquid assets for a single family office, and no asset minimum for a multi-family office.
- Family office details go on a confidential private register, and DMCC says set-up takes around 10 working days with no minimum workforce.
- No personal income tax, 0% corporate tax possible on qualifying income, and new DMCC Foundations from USD 100 that protect transfers from foreign forced-heirship rules.
Cons
- Family offices may not provide financial services regulated by the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority, and DMCC describes their services as non-regulated and non-financial.
- 0% corporate tax needs Qualifying Free Zone Person status, and the FTA says a family office's wealth or fund management income does not qualify without a UAE regulator's oversight.
- No DMCC courts or trust law: disputes default to the Dubai Courts (reported) unless the parties agree otherwise, and DMCC Foundations were still not open for onboarding on 19 October 2026.
