Corporate & Wealth Structuring
Effective structuring is essential to protect assets, optimize wealth, and enable long-term growth across jurisdictions. GCS provides strategic corporate and wealth structuring solutions that align ownership, governance, and financial planning with your personal and business objectives, ensuring stability, efficiency, and cross-border compliance.
Our Services
Strategic Solutions We Offer
Solutions built to reduce complexity, accelerate execution, and ensure your business operates with confidence and full compliance.
Cross Border Setups
Family Office Structuring
Holding Companies
What We Do
From designing optimal ownership structures to implementing robust governance frameworks, we guide clients through every stage with precision and discretion. Our approach goes beyond entity formation, focusing on building structures that safeguard wealth, enhance control, and support future expansion.
We advise on holding companies, trusts, foundations, and multi-jurisdictional structures, aligning legal, financial, and regulatory considerations to ensure long-term effectiveness. Our team manages documentation, regulatory coordination, and structural implementation to deliver seamless execution.
Whether planning succession, protecting assets, or structuring international investments, we create tailored frameworks that preserve wealth, ensure compliance, and enable sustainable growth across generations and global markets.
Corporate & Personal Income Tax in Most Structures
Structuring Across UAE, DIFC & ADGM
Wealth Protection Through Trusts & Foundations
Process
The Process
- 01Wealth & Ownership ReviewWe begin with a confidential review of your existing assets, ownership structures, and cross-border holdings to identify structuring opportunities.
- 02Structure DesignBased on your goals — asset protection, succession planning, or investment holding — we design a tailored structure using the appropriate UAE or international vehicles.
- 03Entity IncorporationWe incorporate the required entities, whether a DIFC holding company, ADGM foundation, UAE holding LLC, or offshore structure, with full documentation.
- 04Governance & Compliance FrameworkWe establish the governance documentation — shareholder agreements, board resolutions, and operating procedures — to ensure the structure operates correctly from day one.
- 05Ongoing Structuring SupportAs your business or asset base evolves, we review and adjust the structure to maintain efficiency, compliance, and alignment with your long-term objectives.
Documents Required
The Documents
-
Passport copies of all beneficial owners -
Proof of source of funds or wealth (for foundation/trust setups) -
Existing corporate structure chart (if restructuring) -
Existing company documents (MOA, share certificates, licenses) -
Details of assets to be held within the structure -
Board resolution or shareholder agreement (if applicable)
Frequently Asked Questions
A holding company owns shares in other companies rather than conducting business directly. In the UAE, holding structures are used to consolidate ownership, protect assets, reduce tax exposure, and facilitate investment across multiple entities or jurisdictions.
Both are common law financial free zones. DIFC is based in Dubai and is widely used for regional holding and fund structures. ADGM is in Abu Dhabi and offers strong foundations and family office frameworks. The choice depends on your specific objectives and existing relationships.
Yes. Foundations established in ADGM or RAK ICC can hold assets and distribute to beneficiaries according to a defined charter — making them effective tools for wealth transfer and estate planning, particularly for non-Muslim residents.
Under the UAE Corporate Tax regime effective from June 2023, qualifying holding companies can benefit from participation exemption on dividends and capital gains from subsidiary shares, subject to conditions. GCS recommends working with a tax adviser alongside your structuring engagement.
Not necessarily. Free zone holding structures — including DIFC, ADGM, and RAKICC — allow 100% foreign ownership with no local partner requirement.
Partner with
Global Company Setup
Schedule a free consultation today and get a clear roadmap tailored to your business goals.