Question 1

How does a family office differ from a fund manager?

Accepted Answer

A family office manages the assets of a single (SFO) or multiple (MFO) families exclusively and does not take external clients. A fund manager is a licensed entity providing financial services to a broad client base. A family office does not require an asset manager licence in the UAE if managing only the family's own funds.

Question 2

What is the minimum asset threshold for a family office in the UAE?

Accepted Answer

For a Single Family Office in RAKEZ, $10M in assets is the practical threshold — below this, annual structure costs ($15,000–25,000) outweigh the benefit. DIFC's DFSA regulator informally expects $50M+ for a full family office. RAKEZ sets no minimum threshold in its regulations.

Question 3

Does the Russia–UAE double tax treaty apply?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The treaty between Russia and the UAE signed in 2011 and in force from 2012 provides: dividends — 0% withholding (subject to conditions); interest — 0% withholding; royalties — 0–5% withholding. To benefit, a UAE tax residency certificate is required along with compliance with UAE substance requirements.

Question 4

Can I set up a family office in the UAE without physically relocating?

Accepted Answer

Legally — yes. A RAKEZ company can be registered remotely. However, for tax purposes and UAE tax residency recognition, spending at least 90 days per year in the UAE is recommended (183 days for full UAE tax residency under UAE standards). Without physical presence, the structure exists but its tax benefits are limited.

Question 5

What taxes does a Russian family pay after relocating to the UAE?

Accepted Answer

After obtaining UAE tax residency: 0% personal income tax, 0% capital gains tax, 0% on dividends from UAE structures, 0% inheritance tax. UAE corporate tax: 9% on profits above AED 375,000 ($102,000), but family offices in RAKEZ and DIFC can qualify for Qualified Free Zone Person (QFZP) status with a 0% rate on qualifying income.

Question 6

How long does full family office setup take?

Accepted Answer

RAKEZ company registration: 3–5 business days. RAK ICC Foundation (optional): 3–10 business days. Bank account opening: 2–4 weeks. UAE investor visa: 2–3 weeks. Asset transfer: 30–90 days (depends on asset type). Total from first meeting to operational launch: 4–8 weeks.

Question 7

How do you legally transfer assets from Russia to the UAE?

Accepted Answer

Lawful asset transfer is possible via: (1) legal bank transfers with notification of the Russian Federal Tax Service of the foreign account opening; (2) sale of Russian assets and purchase of UAE assets via third jurisdictions; (3) contribution of property or rights as capital in kind to a UAE structure. All transactions must comply with Russian currency law (Federal Law 173-FZ) and FTS requirements on Controlled Foreign Companies (CFC).

Parameter	RAKEZRecommended	DIFC	ADGM
Setup cost	$15,000–45,000	$80,000–200,000+	$60,000–150,000+
Annual costs	$5,000–15,000	$30,000–80,000	$20,000–60,000
Timeline	4–6 weeks	8–16 weeks	6–12 weeks
Min. assets	$10M	$50M+	$30M+
CIS specialisation	High	Moderate	Low

Family Office UAE
for Russian & CIS Families

Why UAE is the optimal jurisdiction

0% income tax

Russia–UAE treaty

RAKEZ corporate tax

UAE Golden Visa

RAKEZ, DIFC, or ADGM: which to choose

Step-by-step setup process

Structure diagnostics

RAKEZ company registration

RAK ICC Foundation (optional)

Bank account

Visa and residency

Asset transfer

Common questions about a family office in the UAE

Sources

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Family Office UAEfor Russian & CIS Families