In recent years, more global families have made the Middle East a meaningful part of their lives. Some have relocated; others now spend extended periods here. But perhaps the bigger change is the region itself. What was once viewed by many as a temporary base for business or investment, is now increasingly becoming a long-term home for international families.
As families establish businesses, acquire property and raise future generations in the region, it is natural to ask whether their existing wealth arrangements still reflect how and where they live today.
For most, the answer is not to start again. Instead, they are building on what they already have. Rather than replacing long-established trusts or holding structures, families are complementing them, often with a DIFC foundation or a local family office, recognising that different structures can play different roles as family needs evolve over time.
Why DIFC and why now?
Part of the appeal is familiarity. The DIFC operates on an English common law framework, so for many families it offers a sense of predictability and robustness, not too far removed from Jersey or London. But it is also much closer to where they are now spending time and investing. That combination is becoming important.
However, it is not just about legal comfort.
Dubai has moved quickly in how it supports private wealth. The DIFC Family Wealth Centre is a good example, bringing together family offices and foundations with guidance, peer networks and a clear focus on long-term succession. Add to this the UAE’s “Year of the Family” and it is clear where the direction of travel is. These are not isolated developments, but part of a broader effort to position the DIFC as a long-term home for private wealth.
There is also the global backdrop. Greater transparency, increased regulatory scrutiny, higher expectations around governance. Families still want efficiency and privacy, but without compromise. The DIFC provides an ecosystem where these competing demands can coexist.
DIFC foundations: what is the appeal?
DIFC foundations continue to draw attention, but what is resonating?
Sitting structurally between a trust and a company, they can hold assets in their own name without having shareholders, instead existing for beneficiaries or a defined purpose. In practice, they are highly flexible, capable of holding businesses, real estate or investments, or simply acting as a vehicle for family wealth, all within a framework that is widely recognised internationally.
That is beneficial, but it is not the full story. There is also a cultural alignment. Many families are comfortable stepping away from direct ownership but still want a level of oversight. A foundation allows that. A founder can reserve certain powers, set the rules and remain involved where it matters.
It becomes less about ownership and more about stewardship. And that raises a key question: what role do you actually want to play over time?
Sharia considerations often come into focus as well. With careful planning, a DIFC foundation can support a succession plan aligned with Islamic inheritance principles, while clearly setting out how assets are to be managed and distributed. That clarity is important, particularly across multiple generations, and allows a certainty in a multi-cultural environment. And it does not mean moving away from tradition. If anything, it can reinforce it. The same applies to philanthropy. A foundation can provide a long-term vehicle for charitable activity, embedding values into something designed to endure. This means the focus shifts slightly: not just preserving wealth, but defining its purpose.
Bridging expertise: Jersey and the DIFC
Is this about choosing one jurisdiction over another? In most cases, it is not.
What we are seeing is a combination. Families retain long-standing structures in Jersey, relying on its proven track record and depth of expertise, while introducing a DIFC foundation for new activity or regional interests. So rather than a shift, it is more of a complimentary approach allowing the two jurisdictions to work collaboratively. Jersey offers consistency and a well-established framework. The DIFC brings proximity and a closer connection to current activity. Together, they allow families to benefit from the strengths of both jurisdictions while tailoring arrangements to their specific needs and values.
Which leads to the bigger question: is it about choosing the right jurisdiction, or using more than one in the right way?
From our perspective at Affinity, this is where it becomes most relevant. Being present in both Jersey and the DIFC means we can support the full structure with the same standards and approach.
That consistency makes a difference.
Looking ahead: a multi-hub future?
So where does this lead?
Are multi jurisdictional structures becoming the norm? The answer is reflected in what we are seeing in practice, they already are. A multi-hub approach mirrors how many families now live and invest, but it also inevitably adds complexity. Governance, oversight and control need to remain clear as structures grow.
How do you maintain simplicity as things become more sophisticated? By ensuring administration is coordinated holistically, with clear governance across jurisdictions and the right support in each. With capability across both the DIFC and Jersey, we see first-hand how this joined-up approach better supports families with increasingly international structures.
What is clear is that the DIFC is becoming a key part of that picture. Not a replacement, but as an addition. For families thinking long-term, that balance is becoming hard to ignore.
