Asset Protection & Tax Planning

Clear, practical legal support for asset protection & tax planning in the UAE, helping you protect your rights, family, assets and future.

Asset Protection and Tax Planning

We build a fortress around your wealth, using trusts and foundations to protect your assets from future claims and generational taxes.

In-depth description

This is a strategic service designed to safeguard your family’s wealth for future generations. We utilize sophisticated legal structures such as trusts and foundations to protect your assets from future creditors, matrimonial disputes, and generational tax liabilities. Our goal is to build a fortress around your wealth, ensuring its long-term preservation.

Scope of work

  • Conduct a holistic review of the client’s global assets and family structure.
  • Analyze potential risks (e.g., creditors, matrimonial claims, generational taxes).
  • Design a bespoke asset protection strategy using legal structures like offshore trusts, foundations, or holding companies.
  • Provide a roadmap for implementation in coordination with international advisors.

Price range

AED 10,000 onward (Hourly rate)

Deliverables

  • A comprehensive Asset Protection & Tax Strategy Memorandum.
  • A structural diagram of the proposed solution.
  • Project management of the implementation phase.

Is your wealth protected from future claims and taxes?

Are you exposed to potential creditor claims on your assets?

Legal structures like trusts and foundations can ring-fence your wealth before a claim arises, not after.

Are you concerned about inheritance taxes in your home country?

Multigenerational tax planning can dramatically reduce the tax burden on wealth transferred to the next generation.

Could a divorce expose your personal assets to division?

Asset protection structures, put in place early, can limit what is included in matrimonial asset pools on separation.

Have you never conducted a formal asset protection review?

Most high-net-worth individuals have never mapped their exposure. A single review can identify and close major gaps.

Frequently asked questions

Currently there is no inheritance tax or wealth tax in the UAE. However, if your heirs are resident in France, the UK or other countries with inheritance tax, they may still owe tax on assets they receive, even if those assets are located in the UAE. Cross-border tax planning is essential for international families.
Options depend on your tax residency, asset profile and family situation. Common strategies include choosing tax residency in a lower-tax jurisdiction, optimising asset structures before leaving France, using investment vehicles with favourable tax treatment, and managing the timing of income recognition and asset sales.
 
Possibly, but only if properly structured and compliant with disclosure requirements. France has strict anti-avoidance rules for foundations and trusts, including mandatory reporting. Poorly structured arrangements can generate additional tax exposure rather than savings. Specialist tax and legal advice is essential.
France imposes an exit tax on unrealised capital gains in securities and company shareholdings above certain thresholds when a tax resident leaves. The tax can be deferred under certain conditions for EU/EEA destinations, but moving to the UAE triggers immediate assessment. Planning well before departure is critical.

Not automatically. UAE tax residency depends on your presence and compliance with specific rules (since 2023: 183-day test or centre of life). But more importantly, French tax residency must be formally broken to avoid continued French tax liability. Both sides of the equation must be correctly managed.

Key contacts:

Romain Astruc

Managing Partner – Generalist, Advisory & Litigation

Gabriel Elmarzouki

Associate – Corporate, Commercial & Litigation

David Dutruc-Rosset

Associate – Family, Individuals & Litigation

Get in touch

Other services you might need

Asset protection and tax planning feed directly into how you hold wealth and what happens to it when you move or pass it on.

Foundation Setup - incl. Shariah-Compliant Structures

A properly structured foundation is one of the most effective tools for both asset protection and tax efficiency.
Learn more

Tax Situation Review & Departure Planning

Leaving France or relocating internationally triggers real tax events. We identify and manage them before they arise.
Learn more

Estate Planning - Wills, Foundations & Trusts

Your protection strategy must be coordinated with your succession plan. We manage both in a single engagement.
Learn more

WHAT SET US APART

Why ASTRUC & Co

Protecting wealth across borders requires legal and tax expertise to work in tandem. We bring both under one roof.

1.

Cross-border fluency

Asset protection structures must be effective in the UAE, France and wherever your assets or heirs are located. We design solutions that work across all relevant systems

2.

Tax & law combined

Legal structures without tax planning are incomplete and often counterproductive. We address both dimensions together – ensuring your structure achieves protection and fiscal

3.

Senior counsel only

Asset protection decisions are long-term and difficult to reverse. Every engagement is led by senior lawyers with direct expertise in cross-border wealth structuring and tax

More than legal counsel

With you, all the way

Life in the UAE brings extraordinary opportunities — and equally complex legal realities. Whether you’re relocating your family, navigating a divorce across jurisdictions, or structuring an inheritance that spans continents, you deserve a legal partner who understands both the technicalities and the human side of what you’re going through. At ASTRUC & Co, we treat every client’s situation as if it were our own.

From our offices in Dubai to our network spanning Riyadh, Paris, and Luxembourg, we bring senior-level attention to every matter — personal or financial. We believe the best legal advice is honest, clear, and delivered by someone who genuinely cares about the outcome. That’s why our clients stay with us, and why they come back when life presents its next chapter.

Ready to move forward?

Talk to our team about your situation. We’ll walk you through your options and help you move forward with clarity.

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Merger and Acquisition
  • Set-up of the Workstreams related to the Transaction
  • Legal Due Diligence
  • Tax Due Diligence
  • Negotiating and Drafting the SPA
  • Assistance related to Conditions Precedents
  • Registration of the Transaction with the Authorities
Private Equity
  • Advisory on PE life cycle from Fund Formation, Capital Deployment, M&A, etc.
  • Advisory on Financing Rounds and Execution
  • Drafting of Prospectus, Investment Case, Risk Warnings and Investment Disclaimers, etc.
  • Drafting of Shareholders Agreements
  • Advisory on Board of Directors Structuring and Execution
  • Drafting of Policies, Charts and other JVAs
  • Litigation/Arbitration
Banking &Finance
  • Banking loan documentation negotiation and review including requested securities
  • Account opening requirements and forms
  • Compliance controls upon onboarding as a bank customer and regular updates to allow flawless funds repatriation
  • Escalation if needed with banking authorities and preparing file for litigation
  • Arabic speaker for immediate translation or intermediation with third parties including local authorities.
Commercial
  • Commercial Agency – Contract Drafting and Litigation
  • Rent-Sales Contract – Contract Drafting, Contract Management and Litigation
  • Logistic Services Contract
  • IT Services Contract
  • Intermediary Contract
  • Other Services Contract
Construction
  • FIDIC Short Form of Contract
  • FIDIC Larger or more complex projects (the Construction Contract)
  • FIDIC Contractor doing the Design (Plant and Design-Build Contract)
  • FIDIC EPC/Turnkey Contract
  • Review of Ad Hoc Contracts
  • Assistance for Management of the Contract
  • Litigation/Arbitration
Employment Relationship
  • Assistance during Recruitment Phase with Executive Search Agents or Recruitment Agency
  • Drafting Offer Letter and Employment Contract
  • Drafting Disciplinary Policy and Documentation
  • Registration of Company with Labour Authorities
  • Registration of Employee with Labour Authorities
  • Assistance During Disciplinary Proceedings
  • Termination Strategy and Execution
  • Litigation Services
HR Strategy – Advisory Services
  • Labour Market Analysis
  • Labour Legislation Memo and Manual
  • Analysis of Remuneration Trends, Structures and Composition
  • Labour Taxation
  • Industry Practice reg. bonus, schedule, overtime, leave, length of service, etc.
Business Set-Up and Maintenance
  • Comparative Study on Options Available
  • Legal Memorandum on Corporate and Tax Laws
  • Set-Up Services (Company, Immigration, Labour, Banking, Tax)
  • Nominee Services (Regulated Activity)
  • Shareholders Agreements
  • Board of Directors Structuring
  • Dissolution, Liquidation, Bankruptcy Proceedings
  • Litigation/Arbitration (Manager or Shareholders Dispute)
  • Redomiciliation
Joint Venture and Investors Relationship
  • Set-up of Joint Venture Company
  • Drafting Joint Venture Agreement
  • Drafting of Prospectus, Investment Case, Risk Warnings and Investment Disclaimers, etc.
  • Drafting of Shareholders Agreements
  • Advisory on Financing Rounds and Execution
  • Advisory on Board of Directors Structuring and Execution
  • Drafting of Policies, Charts and other JVAs
  • Litigation/Arbitration
Expatriation Services
  • Employment Package and Contract Review
  • Wealth Management Advisory
  • Tenancy Opportunities and Contract Advisory
  • Medical Insurance Advisory
  • Banking Advisory
  • School Advisory
  • Logistic Advisory
  • FX Exchange Advisory
Relocation
  • Resignation Strategy
  • Tax Situation Review
  • Logistic Advisory
  • FX Exchange Advisory
  • Administration of the Departure and Legal Representation
Advisory
  • Advisory Services on the Developer (reliability check)
  • Review of Contract with Developer
  • Conveyance of Property and Supervision of the Sales Process
  • Legal Representation for the Purchase/Sales
  • Assistance with Engineers and Contractors
  • Assistance with tenants or holidays home management firm
Litigation
  • Cancellation of Contract
  • Cancellation of Project
  • Disputes regarding Lands
  • Disputes regarding Permits and Licenses
  • Dispute with Engineer or Contractor
Civil Status
  • Amendment of Civil Status (divorced/married) in Home Country
  • Change of Name
  • Transcription of Marriage or Divorce
  • Legalisation Services with Consulate and Embassies
Nationality and Immigration
  • Application for Nationality due to family reasons
  • Coordination Services for Obtaining Nationality based on Investment (more than 40 countries)
  • Immigration Services to Schengen Country (Tourist, Business, Long Term, Residence, Nationality)
  • Immigration Services to the USA, UK, Canada, Australia (Tourist, Business, Long Term, Residence, Nationality)
  • Immigration Services to GCC countries (Tourist, Business, Long Term, Residence, Golden Visa, Nationality)
Succession Planning
  • Overall Estate Planning with Financial and Legal Experts
  • Set-up of Shariah Compliant Foundation or Holding Structure
  • Set-up of Trust (DIFC, UAE, ADGM, Foreign based)
  • Set-up of Holding Structure
  • Set-up of Last Wills in the UAE, Qatar, KSA and various territories, as needed
  • Family Counseling - Mediation of dispute between family members
Inheritance Proceedings
  • In any country where there are assets
  • Court proceedings based on Shariah Law
  • Court proceedings based on Deceased Law
  • Court Proceedings based on Last Will
Crime against the Person and Narcotics
  • Assault, Sexual Abuse, Murder
  • Kidnapping
  • Household Theft
  • Threat, Insult, Defamation, Harassment
  • Social Media Crimes
  • IT Crimes
  • Stealing or Misappropriation of Personal Data
  • Narcotics
Business Crimes
  • AML issues
  • Cryptocurrency and other Investment related Scams
  • Breach of Trust
  • Deception and Fraud
  • Theft of business secrets
  • Insolvency related Crimes
  • Accounting Crimes
  • Interpol
Marriages
  • Marriage between French nationals
  • Marriage involving a French national and a non-French national
  • Marriage involving two persons of the same nationality
  • Marriage involving two persons of different nationality
  • Marriage involving a Muslim
  • Brief on matrimonial regimes and applicable laws
Divorces
  • Divorce between French nationals
  • Divorce involving a French national and a non-French national
  • Divorce involving two persons of the same nationality
  • Divorce involving two persons of different nationality
  • Divorce involving a Muslim
  • Brief on matrimonial regimes and applicable laws