Why are entrepreneurs moving East to scale up? This session examines the push factors - breaking tax residence, navigating tag and clawback periods, and restructuring business operations. It also explores the pull of new jurisdictions: managing long-term residence permits, setting up efficient holding structures, financing growth, acquiring real estate, and addressing the legal implications of marriage, children, and lasting powers of attorney. A focused look at the legal and strategic drivers of international expansion.

A new generation of Gulf family members - often educated abroad - is returning with different expectations, values, and questions. Traditional models of advice no longer fit. Advisors must rethink how they engage families. This session explores how to tailor advice for globally minded heirs, navigate changing family dynamics, and stay relevant in an increasingly complex regional landscape.

In a region shaped by forced heirship, the DIFC has developed a succession and trust framework that goes far beyond simply copying Jersey or English models. Built with regional realities in mind these structures challenge conventional expectations and offer powerful planning tools with real impact. This session takes a deep dive into the black letter law of Gulf succession, examining how innovative trust structures are reshaping what's possible in estate planning across the region. 

Women in the Middle East are taking a more prominent role in managing wealth and business, yet key legal issues - like custody rights, divorce jurisdiction, and financial settlements - remain complex and often surprising. This session explores the intersection of matrimonial law and private client advisory, including cross-border divorce dynamics and recent developments impacting ultra-high-net-worth families. We’ll examine how advisors can better support female clients navigating both personal and financial transitions.

Privacy is a critical and evolving concern in the Middle East, where conservative cultural values shape expectations and legal frameworks. This session explores how privacy issues intersect with wealth management and family governance, highlighting the unique challenges advisors face when balancing confidentiality, transparency, and regulatory compliance in the region’s distinct environment.
 

Join this dynamic open forum to discuss the most dramatic succession disputes unfolding across the Gulf and their impact on ultra-high-net-worth families. Concentrating on local legal and regulatory developments, this session offers a candid space for advisors to share insights, challenges, and strategies in navigating complex inheritance issues in the region’s unique landscape.