DIFC Prescribed Companies
Your guide to uses and requirements of DIFC Prescribed Company.
Overview - What are Prescribed Companies?
Prescribed Companies are a type of corporate vehicle that can be established in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Dubai, UAE. They are private companies under the DIFC Companies Law. But they are exempted from certain requirements otherwise applied to private companies.
- It can Outsource Certain Functions to a Corporate Service Provider, e.g., completing the filling requirements and representing the prescribed company before the DIFC, etc.
- It can use Corporate Service Providers address as its registered address.
- The DIFC Fees are Symbolic: The Prescribed company incorporation fee is only USD 100 and the license renewal fee (payable annually) only USD 1,000.
Who can Establish a Prescribed Company?
A prescribed company can be established by a Qualifying Applicant or for a Qualifying Purpose pursuant to the regulations.
Qualifying applicants
- Authorised Firm
- Fund
- Government Entity
- DIFC Entities (any DIFC registered entity with the exception of retail entity and a prescribed company.)
- Shareholder or UBOs of DIFC Entities
- Affiliate of a DIFC Entity
- Family-owned businesses with a large UAE presence
Qualifying purpose
- Aviation Structure
- Crowd Funding Structure
- Government Entity
- Structured Finance
- DIFC Holding Structure – Entity established for the sole purpose of owning DIFC entity(s)
Use cases and benefits of establishing prescribed companies are:
- Strategic Structuring
- Protect Intellectual Property
- Ring-fence Assets
- Asset Financing
- Securitisation
- Risk Mitigation
- Tax Planning
- Succession Planning
How Can We Help?
- Assisting you with the incorporation of a Prescribed Company,
- Acting as a Corporate Service Provider for your Prescribed Company (existing or to be formed),
- Revising the Articles of Association of your existing SPC or ISPV to comply with the New Regulations.
For a detailed discussion, speak to our experts who can guide you in the right direction and help you to stay ahead
