The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and the Dubai Centre for Family Businesses, under Dubai Chambers, have released a new guidebook aimed at supporting the regulation and sustainability of family businesses in the emirate.
Titled Family Businesses in the Emirate of Dubai: A Guidebook, the publication outlines governance structures, succession planning, legal frameworks, and other mechanisms designed to preserve wealth and ensure operational continuity. The guide also covers registration procedures for family businesses in Dubai, following the UAE Family Business Law.
The launch took place during the first session of the Dubai Centre for Family Businesses’ “Knowledge Series” at Dubai Chambers’ headquarters. Discussions at the event included strategies for legacy preservation, innovation, and practical interpretations of the legal framework governing family-run enterprises.
The guide addresses corporate governance, wealth planning, family office structures, real estate ownership, tax implications, digital transformation, and dispute resolution mechanisms. It also includes references to available government initiatives and regulatory procedures for family business registration.
According to DET, family businesses are a key part of Dubai’s economic structure, contributing to job creation and investment and aligning with the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33. The agenda targets doubling the emirate’s economy by 2033.
Dubai Chambers said the initiative is part of broader efforts to improve administrative and legal frameworks for family businesses, enhance governance, and ensure long-term sustainability across generations.
The UAE introduced the Family Business Law in 2022 to provide a unified legal foundation for succession, registration, and ownership transfers among family-run enterprises, which account for a significant portion of the region’s private sector activity.
