GCG Structuring, Atlas Corporate Services, Cavenwell, KENDRIS and M/HQ are five firms to consider for a DIFC foundation in Dubai. For a family with existing companies, property or assets across countries, the choice should cover the foundation’s place in the wider ownership structure and the work required after registration. At GCG, that is where we start: the assets, the family’s objectives and the legal, financial and administrative work needed to put the structure into practice.
disclosure:
This article is published by GCG Structuring. We feature our own approach first, followed by four other firms in alphabetical order. This is a comparison of published services, not an independent ranking. Information was checked on 2 November 2026; confirm current services and fees directly with each firm.
How we selected these firms
Each firm publishes information about establishing, advising on or administering DIFC foundations. We looked at ownership and governance advice, implementation and ongoing support. These are the areas we consider important when a foundation needs to work alongside family companies and other assets. A service not described publicly may still be available; confirm the scope in the proposal.
DIFC foundation providers: services at a glance
Firm
GCG Structuring
Published service scope
Foundation structuring and maintenance within a wider review of assets and ownership, with legal, finance and operations expertise in one team.
A point to clarify in the proposal
How the foundation, existing companies and continuing administration will be coordinated.
Firm
Atlas Corporate Services
Published service scope
Governance design, charter and by-laws, registration, asset-transfer coordination and continuing administration.
A point to clarify in the proposal
How legal advice, tax work and asset transfers are allocated between Atlas and other advisers.
Firm
Cavenwell
Published service scope
Foundation establishment, registered-agent services, council and guardian services, bookkeeping and statutory compliance.
A point to clarify in the proposal
Which professional appointments and accounting services are included in the annual fee.
Firm
KENDRIS
Published service scope
Structure and governance advice, establishment, registered agent and address, council or guardian services, accounting and investment reporting.
A point to clarify in the proposal
The reporting package and whether professional officeholder services are required.
Firm
M/HQ
Published service scope
Foundation establishment and servicing within wider family ownership, fiduciary and succession work.
A point to clarify in the proposal
How the foundation engagement connects to any wider family or group restructuring.
1.
GCG Structuring: one team for the foundation and the wider structure
A DIFC foundation may become the owner of a family holding company, sit above an operating company or form part of a succession plan involving assets in several countries. The structure needs to reflect who owns what, who can make decisions and how family members should benefit.
GCG starts by mapping the assets and the family’s objectives before recommending the vehicle. Our published foundation process includes drafting the charter around the family’s intentions, with review by Managing Partner Peter Ivantsov before implementation, and maintaining the structure afterwards.
Legal, finance and operations expertise in one team
GCG brings structuring advisers together with Senior Legal Consultant Flore Narjoux, Head of Finance Ishan Parikh and the operations team. Their experience covers legal documentation and corporate reorganisations, financial reporting, governance and ongoing administration.
For a family whose foundation connects to existing companies, these responsibilities need to be considered together. The ownership documents, accounts, company records and decisions should reflect the same structure. Where the matter involves another country, the engagement should identify the country-specific advice required and who will provide it.
Why consider GCG: You want the foundation assessed as part of your wider ownership and succession plan, with the team able to address the legal, finance and administration work that follows. GCG’s fees are based on the agreed scope of work and outcomes, rather than hours billed.
2.
Atlas Corporate Services
Atlas publishes a DIFC foundation service covering governance design, charter and by-laws preparation, registration, asset-transfer coordination and continuing corporate secretarial work. It also describes banking and custodian introductions.
Its foundation guide identifies sister company GTAG for tax work. Families comparing proposals can discuss how Atlas, GTAG and any other advisers would divide responsibility for advice, asset transfers and continuing administration.
3.
Cavenwell
Cavenwell’s dedicated DIFC foundation page lists establishment, registered-agent services, professional council members and guardians, corporate governance support, accounting and bookkeeping, and company secretarial compliance.
Its published scope makes professional officeholder services a useful point to explore alongside administration. Ask which appointments are proposed for your foundation and how their responsibilities and fees are documented.
Sources: Cavenwell: DIFC foundation services
4.
KENDRIS
KENDRIS describes advice on foundation structure and governance, establishment, a registered agent and DIFC address, secretarial services and administration. Its service list also includes council or guardian appointments, accounting, investment reporting and bank-account opening support.
For families comparing reporting and professional governance support, these are useful services to discuss in detail. Confirm the reporting package, appointments and ongoing responsibilities covered by the quote.
Sources: KENDRIS: DIFC foundation services
5.
M/HQ
M/HQ describes foundation establishment and servicing as part of a wider private-client and fiduciary practice covering family holdings, family offices and succession. Its fiduciary and legacy page publishes examples involving DIFC foundations and multi-entity family ownership.
M/HQ also contributed to the DIFC Family Wealth Centre’s Understanding DIFC Foundations guide. A discussion can establish whether an engagement would cover the foundation alone or wider family and group restructuring.
What GCG would resolve before recommending a foundation
Before comparing registration quotes, establish what the foundation needs to achieve. For example, a founder may want all children to benefit financially while only one takes responsibility for running the family company. The proposal needs to explain how ownership, management and distributions would work, including what happens if the founder can no longer make decisions.
Our starting point is the connection between the family’s intentions and the assets they actually own. We would work through the following questions before agreeing a recommendation and implementation scope.
Who will advise, implement and administer?
Ask for the exact legal entity that will sign the engagement and the entity proposed for any registered-agent role. A group brand can cover several entities with different responsibilities. Check the proposed agent’s DIFC permitted activities and DFSA registration against the relevant public records.
Under Article 17(4) of the DIFC Foundations Law, a registered agent must be a Qualified Person. The law’s definition requires the relevant DIFC licensing and DFSA registration. The DFSA separately describes company service providers within its non-financial-business supervision framework; this should not be confused with authorisation to manage investments.
How will the assets reach the foundation?
A proposal should identify the assets intended for transfer and the work needed for each. Ask whether the scope includes checking title, lender or shareholder consents, bank requirements, foreign-law advice and transfer costs. Registration and asset-transfer work should have separate deliverables so you can see when implementation is complete.
How will decisions work within the family?
Ask the adviser to explain who can appoint or remove council members, approve distributions, amend the documents and respond to incapacity or disagreement. If a professional guardian or council member is proposed, request a clear explanation of the role, powers, fees and replacement process. Ask who will review the structure if a family member relocates or a major asset is sold.
Who will run the administration after registration?
Request a written division of responsibilities for record-keeping, council decisions, accounts, applicable filings and changes to the foundation’s details. Name the person coordinating the work. Ask how records would be handed over if you later changed provider, including any notice period and transfer charges.
How to compare DIFC foundation fees
We have not ranked these firms by price: the public information reviewed does not establish a comparable, itemised fee schedule across all five. Request a quote for your intended structure and compare establishment costs, the first year and subsequent years separately.
Ask each firm to separate:
- Structuring advice and charter or by-laws drafting.
- DIFC authority fees and other disbursements.
- Registered-office and registered-agent services, where used.
- Professional council members or guardian services, where used.
- Asset transfers, underlying entities and external specialist advice.
- Accounting, reporting and applicable tax-compliance work.
- Amendments, extra transactions and provider handover charges.
Use DIFC’s official handbooks and fee resources to check authority charges. A regulator’s fee is only one component of the proposal. A lower first-year quote may cover less work or exclude services charged annually.
Sources: DIFC: official handbooks and fees
Frequently asked questions
Does a DIFC foundation have to appoint a registered agent?
For a foundation established in the DIFC, appointment is optional under Article 24(1). An appointed agent must meet the law’s qualification requirements. A Recognised Foreign Foundation is different: Article 62(3) requires a registered agent. Ask the adviser which route applies and how the registered office and compliance responsibilities will be handled.
Sources: DIFC Foundations Law: consolidated version, March 2024
Will one firm handle all the legal and tax advice?
Confirm this in the engagement rather than assuming it from a broad service description. Request the names of the entities providing advice, the jurisdictions covered, any external specialists and their fees. Overseas assets or family members may require advice beyond the provider’s own scope.
Is the lowest establishment fee the best comparison?
Compare the same deliverables and recurring responsibilities. A quote that excludes asset transfers, professional appointments or ongoing accounts cannot be compared directly with one that includes them. Ask for written assumptions and exclusions.
What should I prepare before approaching a provider?
Prepare a summary of the assets, current ownership, relevant companies, family members and countries involved. Explain the decision or event prompting the review, such as succession, relocation or a company sale. Share sensitive documents through the provider’s agreed secure process when requested.
Discuss how a DIFC foundation would fit your assets and family
If your family owns companies, property or investments across countries, start with a review of the ownership and the decisions the structure needs to support. GCG brings structuring, legal, finance and operations expertise into that work, from considering the foundation’s role to agreeing how the structure will be implemented and maintained.
In an initial conversation, we can discuss what you own, the countries and people involved, what is prompting the review and what a formal engagement would cover.
For professional advisers, GCG’s Partner Programme explains how we support the UAE structuring work while you retain the client relationship.
This article provides general information and does not replace legal or tax advice on your circumstances.
