What is corporate structure advisory?
Corporate structure advisory is the design of ownership and holding structures that align a business's or family's commercial, tax and governance objectives, often across multiple jurisdictions.
What corporate structure advisory covers
- Design of ownership and holding structures aligned to commercial and family objectives
- Cross-border structuring for multi-jurisdiction assets and operations
- Governance design to separate personal, family and business interests
- Tax-efficient structuring within the UAE corporate tax framework
- Structuring for intergenerational planning and future growth
Why structure matters
Many UAE family businesses and multi-entity groups grow organically, often with assets and entities held in an individual's name rather than under a coordinated structure. This can create unnecessary tax exposure, governance gaps and succession risk. A well-designed structure gives you a clear, sustainable framework: stable today, and flexible enough to support intergenerational planning and future growth.
Who this service is for
- Family-owned business groups looking to formalise or simplify ownership
- HNWIs and UHNWIs consolidating personal and business holdings
- SMEs and growth-stage businesses preparing for investment or exit
- Groups with assets or entities across multiple UAE jurisdictions or overseas
Our approach
Your engagement is led by a dedicated client partner who coordinates the structuring design with our tax, corporate services and IFRS teams, so recommendations are commercially sound, tax-efficient and compliant from the outset.
Frequently asked questions
When should a family business review its structure?
A structure review is typically triggered by growth, a planned investment or exit, a change in family circumstances, or new regulatory requirements such as UAE corporate tax.
Does BDO UAE structure holding companies across jurisdictions?
Yes, BDO UAE advises on structures spanning UAE mainland, free zone and offshore jurisdictions, as well as cross-border arrangements with overseas entities.
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