The UAE has built a private wealth legal infrastructure over the past decade that did not previously exist. The DIFC and ADGM financial free zones operate common-law courts with English-speaking judges, and both offer foundations regimes and registries for wills that allow non-Muslim residents to bypass Sharia succession rules. This has made Dubai a credible jurisdiction for holding structures, not merely a place of residence.
The international private client firms with Dubai offices include Withers, Charles Russell Speechlys, Taylor Wessing, Mishcon de Reya through its regional presence, and the offshore firms such as Mourant and Collas Crill, which serve Gulf clients using Jersey, Guernsey and Cayman structures. Local UAE law firms handle onshore matters and court work.
Typical mandates involve DIFC foundations for succession planning, the registration of DIFC or ADGM wills, real estate holding structures, Golden Visa applications and coordination with the client's home jurisdiction on tax residency.
What to Look For in a Dubai Legal Professional
- A Dubai office (DIFC or onshore) or a dedicated Middle East desk
- Experience with DIFC and ADGM foundations and wills registries
- Coordination capability with UAE onshore counsel for court and administrative matters
- Cross-border tax residency advice, since UAE residents often retain ties to taxing jurisdictions