Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has partnered with Emirates NBD to empower family businesses and UHNWIs within the DIFC Family Wealth Centre, to advance family governance, succession planning, and wealth preservation.
As per the terms of the agreement, Emirates NBD Private Banking will collaborate with DIFC Family Wealth Centre (DFWC) to address the evolving needs of ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) and their family businesses by providing tailored frameworks, robust governance models, tax structuring, and succession planning to ensure long-term sustainability and legacy preservation.
Acknowledging the need for specialized support, Emirates NBD will utilize DIFC’s world-class infrastructure to offer tailored educational programs, workshops, and resources that cover family governance, succession planning, and family office structures.
According to the Global Financial Centers Index, Dubai is the region’s only globally ranked financial center. Emirates NBD, as a leading national bank, recognizes the vital role of family businesses and focuses on succession planning, wealth management, and specialized banking services tailored to their needs.
DIFC is home to over 1,250 family-related entities, including major global private-client institutions. The top 120 families alone manage over $1.2 trillion in global assets, reinforcing their major contribution to the UAE economy, where family businesses generate about 60 percent of GDP and employ 80 percent of the workforce.
The Center offers a comprehensive suite of tools and structures for family businesses and UHNWIs, supporting succession planning, wealth preservation, asset protection, governance, and cross-border investments through holding structures, family offices, and foundations.
HE Arif Amiri CEO – DIFC Authority
“Family businesses from around the world choose Dubai and DIFC as a trusted platform to grow, innovate, and plan for the future. As a global hub for family enterprise, Dubai offers a progressive environment and DIFC provides world-class structures and advisory access that enable families to safeguard wealth and build enduring legacies. Our collaboration with Emirates NBD reinforces DIFC’s commitment to enabling sustainable family wealth strategies through robust governance and succession planning frameworks.”
Mohammad Al Bastaki, Group Head of Private Banking and Wealth Management, said that, “Emirates NBD Private Banking is proud to join forces with DIFC. The agreement marks a significant milestone in our commitment to our private banking clients. We understand the unique complexities and aspirations of family businesses, and by collaborating with DIFC, we are providing a holistic platform to family-owned enterprises that offers unparalleled expertise in governance, succession, and wealth preservation.”
The partnership grants direct access to Emirates NBD Private Banking’s specialized resources and products. Through robust governance and succession planning solutions, including Next Generation programs, the bank aims to empower family enterprises, ensuring business continuity and the preservation of family values for future generations.
