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Description

Family Business Succession: Diagnose, Structure and Transfer

Preparing the handover of the business without weakening either the company or the family balance

  • 2 days — 14 h
  • In-person or virtual
  • Expert
  • Up to 6 participants

The owner built the business and never wrote down what would become of it. One child works in the company while the others have never set foot in it. The business represents the bulk of the family's wealth and its value remains uncertain. Postponing the decision exposes the family to an unplanned transfer and to lasting conflict.

These two days address family business succession in its legal, tax and human dimensions. Participants carry out a full wealth diagnosis, compare the available transfer structures, combine gifting and sale, then organise the governance of the company after the founder steps back.

Learning objectives

  • Conduct the wealth and family diagnosis that precedes a transfer
  • Compare structures for transferring shares in a family company
  • Combine gifting arrangements and sale within a single overall transaction
  • Anticipate the tax consequences of the structures considered
  • Organise governance and executive leadership after the transfer
  • Build a transaction timeline with defined control points

What makes this programme different

A single family case is structured three different ways, then compared point by point
The governance clauses drafted are tested against deadlock scenarios
The transaction timeline is built through to post-completion formalities

Programme

1Preliminary Diagnosis

Knowing what is being transferred and to whom

  • Inventory of business assets and personal assets
  • Marital status and the impact of the applicable regime
  • Mapping the family and the expectations of each member
  • Business valuation and its effect on the balance between heirs
  • Identifying funding constraints

2Legal Transfer Structures

Choosing the structure of the transaction

  • Outright gifting and separation of ownership and usufruct
  • Allocation of shares among heirs and the treatment of equality
  • Contribution to a holding company and leverage effects
  • Collective share retention undertakings
  • Progressive transfer through successive sales

3Tax Consequences

Measuring the cost of each option

  • Basis of assessment for transfer duties on gratuitous transfers
  • Relief regimes applicable to business transfers
  • Treatment of capital gains on a share disposal
  • Impact of holding shares through a holding company
  • Interaction with the taxation of real estate assets

4Governance and Managing the Aftermath

Organising company life after the founder steps back

  • Shareholders' agreement and exit clauses
  • Allocation of powers between family shareholders and executives
  • Status and remuneration of the outgoing owner
  • Preparing successors and transferring know-how
  • Preventing and resolving family conflict

Who is it for

Experienced wealth advisers, together with accountants, legal advisers and corporate service professionals supporting owners of family businesses in the UAE.

Prerequisites

Practising wealth advisory work and being familiar with matrimonial and succession regimes

Dates & locations

36 scheduled dates between November 2026 and December 2027. Seats are confirmed in the order enquiries are received.

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

February 2027

March 2027

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

September 2027

October 2027

November 2027

December 2027

None of these dates suit you? We open additional sessions on request, and any programme can be run privately for your team.

Practical details

Before the programme
Online positioning questionnaire. Your development objectives are shared with the trainer, who tailors the practical case studies to your context.
Teaching methods
Theoretical input, workshops and practical case studies. Digital course materials and method sheets provided.
Assessment
Multiple-choice tests and role-play exercises. Assessment of learning at the start and end of the programme, with immediate and 60-day follow-up evaluations.
After the programme
One year of access to the e-learning platform. Self-assessment of the skills acquired and a 30-day follow-up session with your trainer.
How to register
Registration online or on the basis of a quotation.
Lead time
11 working days after confirmation of registration.
Accessibility
Accessible to people of determination. Contact our accessibility coordinator to design a suitable solution: contact@mpf-academy.ae
Start dates
Rolling intake: in addition to the scheduled sessions, this programme can start on request.