DIFC

Corporate Offices

Apply now

Many of the world’s most dynamic growth markets are located in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region. Situating corporate offices, regional headquarters, family offices and investment entities in the heart of this region creates immediate business and investment opportunities.

DIFC offers the ideal regional location for such entities. Recognised as the number one global financial centre between Europe and Singapore, DIFC provides the most flexible and robust licencing and regulatory environment in the region. It also offers an ecosystem with direct access to expertise and facilities that are essential for management offices, holding companies, proprietary investment companies, prescribed companies and single-family offices.

Apply now
Advantages of setting up in DIFC

DIFC provides an established and tested legal and regulatory framework. Safe and stable, Dubai is a global city and business, trade and tourism centre that is fully connected to regional and global markets.

01

Specialised laws and regulatory regimes for highly flexible corporate structures

02

Management offices, holding companies and family offices are located closer to the assets they own or manage

03

High concentration of international players, investment funds, wealth management expertise, banks, and financial institutions

Legal and Regulatory Framework

Although operating independently, the DIFC Authority, the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and the Dispute Resolution Authority (DRA) serve a common goal: reinforcing DIFC’s principles of integrity, transparency and efficiency. 

The DIFC Authority is responsible for the guiding strategy, ongoing development and overall public administration of DIFC. The DFSA is the globally recognised independent regulator of financial services conducted in or from DIFC. The DRA provides an English-language, commercial common law judicial system, as well as a dispute resolution platform, and other services to deliver legal excellence in the Middle East.

Register in Three Steps

Simple and straightforward licensing, registration and regulation, make setting up and operating in DIFC fast and efficient.

Apply now
01

Discuss your proposed corporate office structure with DFSA and DIFC service advisors

02

Submit application documents 

03

Receive approvals for licenses, visas and consent notifications 

Learn More

Download additional information about establishing a corporate office, holding company, proprietary investment company, intermediate special purpose vehicle, special purpose company or single-family office in DIFC.

For better web experience, please use the website in portrait mode