Family offices · October 2026

DIFC or ADGM for a single family office

Both centres work in English and apply common law. The real differences are the size of the family's assets, the cost, and where the family wants to be.

Side by side

	DIFC, Dubai	ADGM, Abu Dhabi
Minimum family assets	USD 50 million	USD 10 million
Government fees	Higher; confirmed with DIFC before each set-up	USD 5,600 to set up, USD 5,300 a year
Law and courts	Its own common law system and DIFC Courts, in English	English common law applied directly, and ADGM Courts, in English
Family structures in place	1,408 family-related entities and 1,409 foundations (June 2026)	Not published

How to decide

Start with the assets. Below USD 50 million, DIFC is not open to a single family office and ADGM is the natural choice. Above it, both are open, and the decision turns on cost, on where the family and its advisers are based, and on which banks and managers the family already uses.

Then look at what the family office will hold. Property in Dubai, operating companies abroad and investment portfolios each raise different questions, and the answer can be a structure in one centre that owns assets in the other.

Our guide, Family offices in the UAE, covers corporate tax, foundations, the steps and the timeline in full.

Sources: ADGM, family offices; DIFC, results for the first half of 2026.

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