🇦🇪 Registry24 Jul 2026
DIFC opens up prescribed companies and requires a corporate service provider
The Dubai International Financial Centre's amended Prescribed Company Regulations took effect on 24 July 2026, after consultation from 30 April to 2 June. The qualifying requirements are no longer conditions for incorporating or continuing a prescribed company, which widens access to the regime. A non-exempt prescribed company must appoint a DIFC corporate service provider for its registered office and specified statutory functions, with express duties on providers.
Prescribed companies are light-touch DIFC companies often used as holding, financing or special purpose vehicles. The regime was last amended in July 2024.
What changed
- Access: the qualifying requirements are no longer conditions to incorporate or continue a prescribed company.
- Corporate service providers: a non-exempt prescribed company must appoint a corporate service provider to act for it on its registered office and specified statutory functions.
- Provider duties: the regulations replace the old arrangement-based model with express statutory duties for providers.
Who is affected
DIFC prescribed companies, groups using DIFC holding or SPV structures, and DIFC corporate service providers.