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Setting up a trust in Dubai: steps and documents
Seven stages take a family from a first conversation to a funded structure, and setting up a trust in Dubai follows them in order: the enquiry, identity checks, structure design, drafting by a law firm, signing, registration where it applies, and moving the assets. Start by gathering the documents listed below.
Reviewed by a senior trust administrator, updated
Seven stages, who does what
Select a stage to read what slows or speeds it.
- First conversation or quote requestYou
- Identity and source-of-wealth checksOne Pacific Trust
- Structure designOne Pacific Trust
- DraftingLaw firm, bank, adviser or trustee
- Signing and acceptanceYou
- Registration where it appliesYou
- Account opening and transferLaw firm, bank, adviser or trustee
YouOne Pacific TrustLaw firm, bank, adviser or trustee
Legal basis: Governing law[1]
Key facts
- Governing law
- The 2018 Trust Law governs trusts that choose DIFC law[1]
- Registration
- The Registrar's Register of DIFC foundations is open to inspection (Art. 35)[2]
- Reporting to authorities
- The UAE takes part in FATCA and the Common Reporting Standard[3]
Numbers in brackets point to the Sources list at the end of this page.
How the process runs
First conversation or quote request
You describe the family, the assets and the aim, and we reply with the questions that matter for your case.
Identity and source-of-wealth checks
We collect your documents and verify them with independent sources.
Structure design
We, the law firm and your tax adviser agree the centre, the form and the list of assets.
Drafting
The law firm drafts the deed or charter and helps with your letter of wishes, and you review both with your lawyer.
Signing and acceptance
You sign, and the trustee or council formally accepts office.
Registration where it applies
A DIFC foundation is entered in the Registrar's Register (Foundations Law, Art. 35); your lawyer confirms the ADGM step.
Account opening and transfer
The bank opens the account, and each asset is moved into the trustee's name.
Before you start: what you decide
Setting up a trust in the UAE starts with decisions only you can make. Settle these before the first call, even roughly:
- Purpose. Keeping a family company in the Gulf together, holding property in Dubai or abroad, providing for children, or a mix.
- Assets. Cash, securities, shares in a UAE or foreign company, property, and where each one sits.
- Beneficiaries. A named list, a class such as “my descendants”, or both.
- Centre. DIFC in Dubai or ADGM in Abu Dhabi, usually chosen with your lawyer. A settlor may choose DIFC law whether or not they live in the DIFC (Art. 11).
- Form. A trust, or a foundation if you want a separate entity run by a council.
Rough answers are enough for the first call; the law firm turns them into a structure.
The overview of trusts in the UAE explains the main options.
Step by step: from enquiry to signed deed
Checks come before drafting, and registration applies only where the chosen form needs it (step 6). The time each step takes depends on documents and third parties.
- Enquiry. You describe the family, the assets and the aim. We reply with the questions that matter.
- Identity checks. We verify who you are and where the wealth came from, and share the file with the local partner.
- Structure design. We, the law firm and your tax adviser agree the centre, the form and the assets to include.
- Drafting. The law firm drafts the deed or charter, and you write a letter of wishes. You review both with your own lawyer.
- Signing. You sign, and the trustee or council accepts office. The law firm confirms the signing formalities.
- Registration. A DIFC foundation is entered in the Registrar’s Register (source: Foundations Law, Art. 35). Your lawyer confirms the ADGM step and any filing for a trust.
- Funding. The bank opens the account, and each asset moves into the trustee’s name.
We work with a local partner where the work is done in the UAE; your engagement letter sets out its role.
The cost guide lists who charges for which step.
Documents the trustee asks for
You supply identity papers, evidence of where the wealth came from and the details for the deed. A UAE resident adds local papers such as an Emirates ID.
| Document | From whom | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Passport, and Emirates ID if you live in the UAE | Settlor, protector, anyone with control | Identity checks |
| Proof of address, such as a tenancy contract or utility bill | The same people | Address checks |
| Evidence of source of funds and wealth | Settlor | Shows where the assets came from |
| Beneficiary details | Each named beneficiary | Identification |
| Company registration certificate, articles and share register | Any company going into the trust | Confirms ownership and control |
| Title deed | Any property going into the trust | Confirms ownership |
Documents in a language other than English or Arabic usually need a certified translation. If a document is old or hard to obtain, tell us early; there is often another way to show the same fact.
Identity and source-of-funds checks
These checks come first, and the other steps wait on them. We identify the settlor, the protector and anyone else who controls the trust.
For the wealth, we ask for papers such as company accounts, a sale agreement or an inheritance record.
If we do not meet in person, we add a step to confirm who you are, for example a certified copy of a second identity document.
Where anyone connected with the structure holds or has held a senior public office, in the UAE or elsewhere, the checks go deeper and a senior manager signs off first.
The local partner and the bank each run their own checks on the same file.
A settlor abroad sends papers from the home country, certified where the bank asks for it.
After the trust is set up
Once the assets are in, the trust moves into routine administration. The trustee holds meetings when decisions are needed, keeps minutes and accounts, and refreshes identity checks on a schedule set by risk.
A DIFC foundation may, but need not, have a Registered Agent (source: Foundations Law, Art. 24). The Registrar keeps a Register of foundations that is open to public inspection (same source, Art. 35).
The UAE takes part in FATCA and the Common Reporting Standard (source: UAE Ministry of Finance, Automatic exchange of information).
The trustee collects tax residence forms from the settlor, the beneficiaries and others who control the trust.
The tax and reporting page covers what the trustee files and when.
You can update your letter of wishes at any time.
The legal features of the two centres explain which powers the law allows you to keep, and the frequently asked questions cover the rest.
When you have a rough picture of the purpose and the assets, ask us for a quote and we come back with the next questions.
Frequently asked questions
How do you set up a trust in Dubai?
The checks fix the order: nothing is drafted until the trustee has verified who you are and where the wealth came from. So the first papers to gather are your passport, proof of address and evidence of the source of your wealth. The choice between DIFC and ADGM, and between a trust and a foundation, comes next, with your lawyer.
How long does set-up take in the UAE?
It depends on how complete your documents are and on third parties: the law firm, the bank and, for a foundation, the Registrar. Identity and wealth checks take longest when papers are old or held abroad. Once your papers are in, you get a plan with each step.
Which documents do I need for a trust in the UAE?
You need a passport and proof of address, evidence of where your money and wealth came from, details of each beneficiary, and ownership papers for any company going into the trust. Documents not in English or Arabic may need a certified translation.