Emirates NBD has entered a strategic partnership with the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) aimed at supporting family businesses and ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) in long-term wealth management and legacy preservation.
Through this agreement, Emirates NBD Private Banking will work with the DIFC Family Wealth Centre to provide frameworks for governance, tax structuring, and succession planning tailored to the needs of UHNWIs and their family enterprises. The collaboration includes educational programs and workshops focused on family governance, succession planning, and setting up family office structures.
The partnership is intended to enhance support for family-owned enterprises by leveraging DIFC’s infrastructure. It also seeks to strengthen both DIFC’s role as a financial thought leader and Emirates NBD’s position as a key banking partner for these clients.
“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,” said His Excellency Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer of DIFC Authority.
Mohammad Al Bastaki, Group Head of Private Banking and Wealth Management at Emirates NBD, stated: “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. This alliance underscores our dedication to empowering our clients to navigate the future with confidence, ensuring their legacies endure and thrive across generations.”
DIFC currently houses over 1,250 family-related entities including many global private-client institutions. The top 120 families based in the centre collectively manage more than USD 1.2 trillion in assets worldwide. Family businesses contribute about 60 percent of UAE’s GDP while employing approximately 80 percent of its workforce.
The partnership gives these enterprises direct access to tools such as holding structures, foundations, asset protection solutions, cross-border investment opportunities through the DIFC platform as well as specialized resources from Emirates NBD Private Banking.
By focusing on next-generation programmes and tailored solutions for business continuity planning, both organizations aim to help families prepare strategies that preserve business operations while maintaining core values across generations.
