In short
If you are a US citizen without a documented succession plan, ADGM’s Consultation Paper No. 3 of 2017 proposed a foundations framework, intended as the first of its kind in the UAE. It is a proposal, not proof of today’s rules or of the protections you would get. Begin with what needs continuity and who should be able to act, then have the current framework assessed against your intended ownership and decision-making arrangements.

What the article reports
- ADGM issued Consultation Paper No. 3 of 2017 to propose a legislative and regulatory framework for foundations, intended as the first of its kind in the UAE.
- The proposed regime addressed individuals, families, organisations and advisers seeking private-wealth management, asset safeguarding and succession planning.
- Its stated aims included confidentiality, governance controls and asset-protection mechanisms to preserve the founder’s wishes.
- ADGM said the proposal was benchmarked against jurisdictions including Jersey and Guernsey.
This primary source is a 2017 proposal. Its stated aims do not establish the current framework, available protections or suitability for a particular person.
FNC’s take
For a US citizen without a documented succession plan, begin with what needs continuity and who should be able to act. A foundation label alone does not answer those questions. The consultation is useful for understanding the proposed purpose, not for confirming a present-day result.
Ask for the current framework to be checked against your intended ownership and decision-making arrangements. Treat the protections you expect as points to verify. Do not turn an old statement of regulatory aims into a guarantee about your assets.
Common questions
- Who was the proposed foundation regime intended to serve?
- ADGM said its proposed regime addressed individuals, families, organisations and advisers seeking private-wealth management, asset safeguarding and succession planning. Those stated audiences explain the consultation’s intended use. They do not establish that a foundation fits your ownership arrangements or answers the specific continuity questions your succession plan needs to resolve.
- What protections did the consultation aim to include?
- ADGM’s stated aims included confidentiality, governance controls and asset-protection mechanisms intended to preserve the founder’s wishes. Those are proposed regulatory aims in a historical consultation. Your expected protections should be examined against the current framework and intended arrangements before you rely on a foundation for particular assets or decisions.
- Does comparison with other jurisdictions establish present suitability?
- ADGM said the proposal was benchmarked against jurisdictions including Jersey and Guernsey. That comparison describes how the proposed framework was developed, rather than the current protections available to you. Identify your intended ownership, who should make decisions and what needs continuity, then request assessment against the current rules.
Information, not advice.
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