Holding Company & SPV Formation in UAE and Abroad
You need the right country, the right structure, and someone to handle it properly. We answer those questions, then form and maintain the structure for you, in the UAE or abroad.
What a holding company does, in short
A holding company owns shares in other companies, property, intellectual property or investments. It does not trade.An SPV does the same job for one asset, project or transaction, and is often closed when that ends.
Each company is a separate legal entity, so a claim against a trading subsidiary does not automatically reach the assets held above it.
Types of holding companies and SPVs
When a holding company is worth setting up
If one of these sounds familiar, it is a good time to talk.
Book a consultation- You want property, cash or IP held away from trading risk
- You own several companies and want them under one owner
- You are preparing to sell part of the business or bring in an investor
- You are planning succession within a family
- You need one vehicle for a single project, property or joint venture
- You are expanding and need a parent above the new entity
What our holding company formation covers
Many countries exempt qualifying dividends and share sales from tax at the holding level. Conditions vary, so we confirm them with your tax advisor.
Structure advice
Which vehicle, which country, and how the ownership chain should look.
Corporate StructuringFormation
Registration, constitutional documents, share structure and registered office.
Company FormationMoving assets in
Share and asset transfers, sequenced and documented with your tax advisor and lawyers.
Bank account preparation
The ownership evidence and source-of-funds explanation your bank will ask for.
Corporate Bank Account OpeningOngoing administration
Filings, beneficial ownership records, board records and annual requirements.
How holding company setup works
Call
We learn what you own, where it sits and who the owners are.
Recommendation
We propose the country and structure, and explain the trade-offs, including running cost.
Formation
We register the company and prepare the documents.
Transfer and maintain
We move the assets in and keep the structure current.
Holding company setup by country
The right country depends on your assets, your owners and where you bank. We compare the options on your first call.
Book a callHolding company FAQs
A holding company usually owns several things over a long period. An SPV holds one asset, project or transaction, and is often closed when it ends.
Yes. The usual options are an ADGM SPV or a DIFC Prescribed Company, which are common law structures that need no physical office, or a holding company in one of the UAE free zones. The right one depends on what you hold, where the owners are and which bank you use.
It depends on where your assets and subsidiaries are, where the owners live, where you bank, and the agreements between the countries involved. We compare the options on your first call.
Yes, through a share transfer or share exchange. The order and documentation matter, because these transfers can create a tax charge if handled badly.
Dividends and gains from qualifying shareholdings can be exempt from UAE Corporate Tax under the participation exemption. Conditions apply, including a holding of at least 5% kept for at least 12 months, so we confirm eligibility with your tax advisor.
Usually not, since it does not trade. Some countries expect a minimum local presence, such as resident directors or local records, before the structure gets the treatment it was set up for.
Start your holding company with one call.
Tell us what you own and where. We will recommend the structure, the country and what it costs to run.