The UAE’s philanthropic landscape is entering a new phase of development.
As philanthropy becomes increasingly integrated into succession planning, wealth preservation and family legacy strategies, families and entrepreneurs are looking beyond the transfer of wealth to consider how they can create lasting impact and support causes aligned with their values.
At the same time, the UAE’s evolving framework is creating greater clarity around the different pathways available for philanthropy. Foundations continue to play an important role in private family philanthropy and legacy planning, while new frameworks are emerging to support broader charitable and public benefit initiatives.
Key takeaways:
- The UAE’s philanthropic framework continues to evolve to accommodate different forms of giving.
- Foundations remain relevant for private family philanthropy and legacy objectives.
- New avenues are emerging for broader public benefit and charitable initiatives.
- Governance, transparency and oversight are becoming increasingly important considerations.
Together, these developments reflect a broader shift towards clarity, credibility and choice, giving families, founders and philanthropists greater scope to pursue social impact in a way that aligns with their objectives, ambitions and scale of activity.
“Philanthropy and legacy planning are becoming increasingly connected. The UAE’s evolving framework is giving families greater clarity and choice in how they can translate their values into lasting impact.” – Kath Zagatti, Lead Partner – Legacy & Family Office
“As philanthropic activity grows, strong governance will be essential to maintaining trust in the sector. Appropriate oversight can help ensure that philanthropic capital is managed responsibly while supporting families and organisations in achieving their intended impact.” – Hermione Harrison, Partner & Head of M/HQ’s Abu Dhabi Office
Read the full insight here: OPINION: Philanthropy in the UAE – Pathways for Impact
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M/HQ is a multi-services platform catering to successful individuals and entrepreneurial families. Our one-stop-shop offering is unique in the Middle East: a holistic and cross-disciplinary combination of a market- leading corporate services firm, a private client specialist team and a regulatory & compliance services practice, all through one single platform
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