Best Countries to Base a Family Office
Discover the best countries to base a family office. Compare leading jurisdictions by tax treatment, privacy, regulation, talent availability, banking ecosystem, and professional services to choose the ideal location for your family’s wealth structure.
Choosing among the best countries to base a family office is one of the largest decisions a wealthy family makes. The location shapes how much tax the family pays, which regulators are involved, which talent is available and how safe the assets feel in a crisis. Rules are shifting fast: the United Kingdom has scrapped its non-dom regime, Asian financial centers are competing with new incentives, and geopolitical tension is pushing families to spread risk across more than one base.
This guide compares the leading jurisdictions, explains the factors that matter most and shows how to choose. It is general information, so confirm every rule with a local lawyer and tax advisor before acting.
Quick Answer: The Best Countries to Base a Family Office
| Jurisdiction | Main strength | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates (DIFC, ADGM) | No personal income, capital gains or inheritance tax; fast setup | Newer ecosystem, smaller local talent pool |
| Singapore | Low tax, high trust and incentive schemes | Requirements for local spending and staff |
| Hong Kong | Gateway to mainland China markets | Minimum assets and staffing rules for tax concessions |
| Switzerland | Exceptional political and economic stability | Higher corporate tax than the Gulf and Singapore |
| United Kingdom | Deep professional services | Non-dom regime abolished from April 2025 |
| United States | Unmatched financial markets | Highest tax burden of the group |
Charles Russell Speechlys sums up the pattern in one line: family offices follow stability first, tax second and talent always.
What Makes the Best Countries to Base a Family Office?
Seven factors recur in every serious comparison.
- Tax treatment. Personal income, capital gains, inheritance and corporate taxes.
- Political and legal stability. Property rights, courts and predictability.
- Regulation. Licensing, reporting and anti-money-laundering rules.
- Talent. Access to investment professionals, lawyers and accountants.
- Cost and speed of setup. Licensing time, local spending and staffing requirements.
- Market access. Proximity to financial centers and investment opportunities.
- Lifestyle and family needs. Schools, healthcare, language and residency options.
Best Countries to Base a Family Office: The United Arab Emirates (DIFC and ADGM)
The UAE has become one of the best countries to base a family office. Charles Russell Speechlys lists no personal income tax, no capital gains tax and no inheritance or estate tax, with corporate tax of 9% for qualifying activities. Economy Middle East adds that corporate tax was introduced in 2023, many investment entities are exempt and more than 140 double taxation agreements keep withholding taxes low. It also notes that the UAE was the world’s top destination for migrating millionaires in 2024, with approximately 6,700 high-net-worth individuals arriving.
Two financial free zones dominate, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). Both use an English common law framework with distinct regulatory approaches. Aerapass reports no minimum asset requirement in DIFC, a setup time of 4 to 8 weeks, an office requirement and one senior executive officer as the staffing baseline.
Counts of family offices vary widely by source. Aerapass says DIFC houses more than 120 family offices managing about $1.2 trillion, while Economy Middle East cites around 800 in DIFC, so treat headline numbers with caution.
Best Countries to Base a Family Office: Singapore
Charles Russell Speechlys describes Singapore as combining low tax and high trust, with a territorial tax system and no tax on dividends, capital gains or inheritance. Aerapass reports that Singapore passed 2,000 single-family offices by the end of 2024, growth of 43% in a year.
Tax incentives come through sections 13O and 13U, overseen by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. ASEAN Briefing reports that from January 1, 2025 both schemes require S$5 million in designated investments, a reduction from earlier asset thresholds of S$20 million for 13O and S$50 million for 13U. Some guides, including Aerapass, still list the older thresholds, so confirm the current figure with the authority before applying.
Local business spending now follows tiers, according to ASEAN Briefing.
| Assets under management | Minimum annual local business spending |
|---|---|
| Under S$250 million | S$200,000 |
| S$250 million to S$2 billion | S$300,000 |
| Above S$2 billion | S$500,000 |
Aerapass puts the Singapore setup time at 4 to 6 months and lists two investment professionals as a staffing baseline.
Best Countries to Base a Family Office: Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s Legislative Council papers report about 3,384 single-family offices at the end of 2025, with more than half set up by ultra-high-net-worth individuals holding over US$50 million. Over 200 offices have established or expanded in the city with government assistance since 2021. Aerapass puts growth at 25% in a year and combined assets at $4.53 trillion.
The tax concession for family-owned investment holding vehicles, launched in May 2023, requires minimum assets of HK$240 million and substantial activities, including at least two full-time qualified employees in Hong Kong. Aerapass lists local spending of HK$2 million a year. The legislature paper adds that enhanced preferential regimes were proposed, with legislative submissions planned for the first half of 2026. The city’s main appeal, according to Aerapass, is access to mainland China markets through Stock Connect and Bond Connect and links to the Greater Bay Area.
Switzerland
Switzerland is the traditional entry among the best countries to base a family office. Charles Russell Speechlys points to exceptional political and economic stability, no capital gains tax for individuals and corporate tax of roughly 12.5% to 20% depending on the canton. It is less about tax rates and more about trust, privacy and a deep private banking ecosystem.
United Kingdom
London keeps its professional services depth, but the tax regime has changed. KPMG reports that the non-dom regime was abolished from April 2025 and replaced by a residence-based system. New arrivals can use a four-year foreign income and gains regime if they have been non-resident for at least ten consecutive years. People who have been UK tax resident for 10 of the previous 20 years face UK inheritance tax on worldwide assets, and non-residents can remain liable for three to ten years depending on prior residence. KPMG also describes a three-year temporary repatriation facility with reduced rates of 12% for the first two years and 15% in the last.
United States
Charles Russell Speechlys credits the United States with unmatched scale and depth of financial markets, balanced against a heavy tax burden: a 37% top income tax rate and 23.8% on capital gains. For families that live in the US, this is often the base by default rather than by choice.
Italy: A Residence Option, Not an Office Base
Italy offers a lump-sum tax of €300,000 a year to cover all foreign income and gains for up to 15 years, according to Charles Russell Speechlys. It suits wealthy individuals who relocate, though the firm considers it less suitable for family office entities themselves because of corporate taxation.
Comparing the Best Countries to Base a Family Office Side by Side
| Factor | DIFC (UAE) | Singapore | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tax on qualifying income | 0% | 0% on qualifying income | 0% under the FIHV regime |
| Minimum assets | None | S$5 million designated investments (current rule per ASEAN Briefing) | HK$240 million |
| Local spending | Office required | S$200,000 to S$500,000 a year | HK$2 million a year |
| Staffing | One senior executive officer | Two investment professionals | At least two staff members |
| Setup time | 4 to 8 weeks | 4 to 6 months | Variable |
Why Many Families Use More Than One Base
Aerapass reports that 84% of family offices now cite geopolitical risk as a primary concern, which pushes them toward several operating centers instead of concentrating everything in a single jurisdiction. Sophisticated families increasingly operate across two or three hubs, with each hub serving a distinct purpose in the wealth structure.
A common arrangement is a primary base for governance and investments, plus a second center near key markets or the family’s heritage.
How to Choose Among the Best Countries to Base a Family Office
- Start with where the family lives. Residence drives personal tax more than the office’s location.
- List your priorities. Tax, stability, market access, talent or lifestyle.
- Shortlist two or three jurisdictions. Compare them with the table above.
- Check the minimums. Look at asset thresholds, local spending and staffing rules.
- Test with advisors. Get written advice from lawyers and tax specialists in each country, including anti-avoidance and substance rules.
Common Mistakes When Ranking the Best Countries to Base a Family Office
- Choosing on tax alone. Stability and talent matter just as much.
- Ignoring substance rules. Incentives often require real staff and spending.
- Relying on outdated thresholds. Singapore’s figures changed in 2025 and guides disagree.
- Forgetting personal residence. A zero-tax office does not remove tax on family members living elsewhere.
- Failing to plan for change. The UK shows how quickly rules can shift.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best countries to base a family office?
The most cited are the UAE, Singapore, Hong Kong and Switzerland, with the UK and US as major financial centers that carry higher taxes. The best choice depends on where the family lives and what it values.
Which country has no tax for family offices?
The UAE has no personal income, capital gains or inheritance tax, while corporate tax of 9% applies to qualifying activities. Singapore and Hong Kong offer 0% on qualifying income under their incentive schemes, subject to conditions.
How fast can you set up a family office in Dubai?
Aerapass reports 4 to 8 weeks in DIFC, compared with 4 to 6 months in Singapore.
What is Singapore’s 13O scheme?
It is a tax incentive for single-family offices administered by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. ASEAN Briefing says it requires S$5 million in designated investments from January 1, 2025, plus tiered local business spending.
Is the UK still attractive for family offices?
It remains a major professional services hub, but the non-dom regime ended in April 2025 and long-term residents now face inheritance tax on worldwide assets.
Do I need more than one location?
Not always, but many families use two or three hubs to manage geopolitical risk.
This is general information rather than legal, tax or financial counsel. Incentives and rates change often and depend on each family’s circumstances, so get written advice from qualified professionals in every country you consider.
Sources
- Charles Russell Speechlys, “Family offices on the move: where next?” – https://www.charlesrussellspeechlys.com/en/insights/quick-reads/102mnck-family-offices-on-the-move-where-next/
- Aerapass, “DIFC vs Singapore vs Hong Kong for Family Offices: Choosing Your Second Base” – https://aerapass.io/blog/difc-vs-singapore-family-offices/
- ASEAN Briefing, “Tax Incentive Requirements for Family Offices in Singapore” – https://aseanbriefing.com/news/tax-incentive-requirements-for-family-offices-in-singapore
- Hong Kong Legislative Council, Panel on Financial Affairs paper on family offices (March 2026) – https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr2026/english/panels/fa/papers/fa20260302cb1-176-3-e.pdf
- KPMG UK, “Non-dom regime reform” – https://kpmg.com/uk/en/home/services/tax/non-dom-regime-reform.html
- Economy Middle East, “How European Family Offices Are Reallocating Capital to the UAE” – https://economymiddleeast.com/news/how-european-family-offices-are-reallocating-capital-to-the-uae
