In an era defined by cross-border opportunity and volatility, family offices in the UAE and China are rewriting the playbook on wealth preservation. Once focused on local markets and intergenerational continuity, these entities are now firmly turned toward global asset diversification—a move driven by evolving geopolitical dynamics, next-generation priorities, and the pursuit of resilient, long-term value.
At Encor, we don’t just observe this shift—we actively support and structure it.
Why Family Offices Are Evolving
Family offices—typically set up to manage the wealth, succession planning, and philanthropic strategies of ultra-high-net-worth families—have long prioritized familiarity, legacy, and local control. But the landscape is changing.
In both the UAE and China, family offices are increasingly becoming globally mobile, sophisticated investment engines. Three forces are driving this evolution:
- Next-Gen Influence: Younger family members are pushing for exposure to alternative assets, tech startups, ESG funds, and global private equity.
- Geopolitical Hedging: Diversifying across jurisdictions helps mitigate risk tied to any one country’s economic or regulatory outlook.
- Wealth Preservation in a Fragmented World: From inflation to currency fluctuations and shifting tax regimes, families are no longer leaving their capital exposed to a single geography or asset class.
UAE: The Rise of Dubai and Abu Dhabi as Global Family Office Hubs
The UAE’s financial ecosystem is positioning itself as a magnet for global capital. With family office-friendly policies, progressive wealth management infrastructure, and robust tax efficiency, cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi are drawing global families—and their assets—at an unprecedented rate.
Recent reforms have made it easier than ever to establish a family office structure through the DIFC or ADGM, offering benefits such as:
- 100% foreign ownership
- Zero personal income tax
- Flexible legal frameworks, including foundations and trusts
- Residency options for key family members and executives
Encor plays a strategic role here, helping clients structure single- and multi-family offices that are compliant, agile, and built for multigenerational continuity.
China: Sophistication Meets Global Ambition
Family offices in China have matured rapidly over the past decade, evolving from wealth custodians to innovation-led investment arms. While they remain deeply embedded in China’s growth story, many are now looking outward—with eyes on Singapore, Switzerland, the UAE, and beyond.
The drivers?
- Tighter capital controls at home mean strategic outbound structuring is key.
- Families are seeking hard-asset hedges, global VC exposure, and real estate footprints across mature markets.
- Chinese family offices are also showing increased appetite for philanthropy and social impact investing, particularly across Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
Encor works with elite advisors and fiduciary experts to help Chinese families set up globally-aligned structures that meet regulatory standards while preserving their core values and objectives.
The Intersection: UAE–China Capital Corridors
The synergy between the UAE and China is no longer theoretical—it’s operational. Trade, finance, and diplomatic ties between the two nations have deepened significantly under the Belt and Road Initiative, and capital is flowing both ways.
We’re now seeing:
- Chinese families setting up investment arms in Dubai to access Middle East and African markets
- GCC-based families investing in Asia’s tech and healthcare sectors
- Cross-border partnerships in luxury, logistics, and green infrastructure
This UAE–China corridor is no longer a niche—it’s the new frontier of global wealth management. And at Encor, we’re building the bridge.
How Encor Supports Global Family Office Expansion
Whether you’re restructuring your family office in light of generational shifts or building one from the ground up, Encor offers strategic advisory, jurisdictional insight, and end-to-end execution.
Our support includes:
- Jurisdiction selection and entity setup (UAE, Singapore, Hong Kong, Switzerland, and more)
- Regulatory and tax compliance across multi-country footprints
- Structuring for governance, succession, and philanthropic initiatives
- Cross-border banking and investment facilitation
- Alignment with family charters and long-term vision
Final Thoughts
The shift toward global asset diversification is more than a trend—it’s a strategic imperative. Family offices in the UAE and China are leading the charge, building agile, borderless investment frameworks that respond to today’s complexity while safeguarding tomorrow’s legacy.
At Encor, we don’t just navigate these changes. We architect them.
