Latest news with #VaidotasMelynavicius
Khaleej Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE is rapidly becoming the go-to destination for the world's wealthiest families
The UAE is rapidly becoming the go-to destination for the world's wealthiest families seeking to manage assets worth trillions of dollars, and the recent Family Office Summit 2025, held in Abu Dhabi, underscored this shift. With its tax advantages, strategic location, and progressive regulatory framework, the UAE is redefining wealth management, attracting global high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) seeking innovative and secure ways to preserve and grow their wealth. Bringing together 235 high-level participants — including 61 family offices, 82 family holdings, and representatives managing over $500 billion in assets — the summit highlighted why the UAE is a magnet for family offices. The summit, a cornerstone event for global investors, showcased Abu Dhabi's rise as a hub for wealth leadership, building on the success of previous Dubai editions. Discussions spanned 11 panels, covering topics from governance to the future of legacy, with a focus on how family offices are evolving. A standout panel, 'Family Office 2.0,' featured experts like Vaidotas Melynavicius of Santocedrus Capital and Amer Al Osh of Gewan Holding, who emphasized the role of next-generation leaders in driving tech-enabled, future-ready family offices. These young stewards are embedding sustainability, technology, and entrepreneurial thinking into their investment strategies, reflecting a generational shift. According to a recent report, 79 per cent of Middle Eastern next-gen investors see high potential in digital and tech sectors, aligning with the UAE's innovation-driven vision. The UAE's appeal lies in its unique blend of advantages. Dubai, home to over 75 per cent of the region's family offices, manages more than $1.2 trillion in assets through 120 families and 800 family-related entities, as noted by Arif Amiri, CEO of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Authority. The DIFC, the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia's leading financial hub, oversees $450 billion in private wealth and is central to this ecosystem. With access to $3 trillion in private wealth within an hour's flight, Dubai's strategic location makes it a gateway for global investment, connecting Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Tax benefits are a major draw. The UAE's zero-income tax, zero capital gains tax, and absence of inheritance tax create a tax-efficient environment for wealth preservation across generations. The introduction of a corporate tax in 2023 has further strengthened the UAE's financial framework, offering clarity and stability. These advantages are particularly appealing to Indian HNWIs, who are increasingly relocating to the UAE to structure their finances. The DIFC's 2023 Family Arrangement Regulations provide tailored support for single and multi-family offices, ensuring seamless operations for wealth management, tax planning, estate planning, and legal counsel. The UAE's regulatory environment is another key factor. The Dubai World Trade Centre Authority and DIFC have established clear frameworks for family offices, supporting both single-family offices (SFOs) and multi-family offices (MFOs). The DIFC's Global Family Business and Private Wealth Centre, launched in 2022, is the first of its kind globally, offering advisory services, networking, and dispute resolution. Family businesses contribute significantly to the emirate's economy, aligning with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to position Dubai among the world's top four financial centers by 2033. Investment opportunities in the UAE are diverse and dynamic. Family offices are increasingly drawn to private equity, particularly in green energy, which aligns with the UAE's sustainability goals. Real estate, hospitality, technology, and healthcare are also thriving sectors, offering high growth potential. The Abu Dhabi summit highlighted how family offices are leveraging these opportunities to diversify portfolios and drive long-term value. For instance, discussions revealed a growing interest in digital assets, with the UAE's Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) providing clarity and custody solutions. Next-gen and female leaders are embracing cryptocurrencies as strategic asset classes, moving beyond speculation to structured investments. The summit's focus on governance and resilience resonated strongly. Panels explored how family offices can future-proof their operations through smart governance, proactive risk management, and alignment with long-term goals. Technologies like artificial intelligence are being adopted to enhance decision-making and legacy planning, particularly by younger leaders. Obediah Ayton, Chairman of the Family Office Summit, noted, 'Family offices are strategically balancing financial returns with long-term impact, particularly through investments in high-potential sectors like healthcare and real estate.' The event's curated design, with dynamic seating and private networking lounges, fostered meaningful connections, with 19 family offices attending in the UAE for the first time. As a speaker at the event noted, 'the UAE's progressive vision, exemplified by its embrace of next-gen and female leadership, sets it apart.'
Zawya
5 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Abu Dhabi emerges as regional epicenter for global wealth dialogue at Family Office Summit 2025
UAE – The Family Office Summit 2025 concluded with resounding success at the luxurious Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas, uniting leading family offices, sovereign wealth funds, and institutional investors representing over $500 billion in assets under management. This year's Abu Dhabi edition further solidified the UAE's position as a global powerhouse in wealth management, venture capital, and private capital deployment. Following the momentum of past editions in Dubai, the summit marked a defining moment in Abu Dhabi's rise as a central hub for wealth leadership and innovation. The event welcomed a capped audience of 235 high-level participants, including 61 family offices, 82 family holdings, 29 buy-side mid-market firms, 5 sovereign wealth and pension funds, and 9 strategic summit partners. 'The Family Office Summit has become a cornerstone event for global investors seeking deep dialogue and curated networking,' said Obediah Ayton, Chairman of the Family Office Summit. ' The summit offered the perfect backdrop for transformative conversations with 11 panel discussions unpacked covering topics about wealth, governance, and the future of legacy.' One of the key panelists (Family Office 2.0), Vaidotas Melynavicius (Chief Investment Officer, Santocedrus Capital), Amer Al Osh (Chief Development Officer, Gewan Holding), Julien Tizot (Chief Investment Officer, Aras Partners), and Biju Thomas (Senior Director, Private Banking, Mashreq), highlighted the significant changes unfolding in the family office space, particularly in Abu Dhabi. The discussion focused on the next generation taking charge of future-ready, tech-enabled family offices and the growing convergence of international and local families learning from one another. A significant highlight of the summit was the growing influence of the next generation of family office leaders, who are rewriting the rules of wealth management with bold investments in venture capital and digital innovation. There were some key young experts who contributed to a dynamic dialogue around how young family stewards are embedding sustainability, technology, and entrepreneurial thinking into their investment DNA. The young investors are playing a central role in shaping these digital strategies. According to the recent report, 79% of next-gen investors in the Middle East see high potential in digital and tech sectors, reflecting a broader generational shift toward innovation and sustainability. Discussions also focused on how family offices and institutional investors are actively capitalizing on private equity to diversify portfolios, boost returns, and drive long-term value. Many family offices are currently drawn to private equity investment especially green energy aligning well with UAE sustainability goals offering potential growth and wealth preservation. In a few dedicated sessions, experts spoke what it takes to build a resilient and future-ready family office structure. The discussion covered smart governance frameworks, proactive risk management, and aligning operations to future proof the office, mitigate long-term risk and ensure generational continuity. Obediah Ayton added 'The panels explored how family offices are strategically balancing financial returns with long-term impact, particularly through investments in high-potential sectors such as healthcare and real estate.' 'We discussed how next-generation and female leaders are playing pivotal roles in driving innovation by leveraging advanced technologies like AI to enhance decision-making, strengthen governance, and shape long-term legacy planning.' The evolving digital asset landscape was another key highlight, especially in light of the UAE's Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) providing clarity and improved custody solutions. With maturing markets and stronger regulatory frameworks, many family offices especially led by 2nd and 3rd generations are now investing in cryptocurrency businesses, viewing them not as speculative gambles but as structured, strategic asset classes. The event's design prioritized organic engagement, with dynamic seating, private networking lounges, and a thoughtfully curated attendee list with 19 family offices attending for the first time in the UAE that encouraged meaningful conversations and tangible outcomes. Next generation of family office leaders, Female leadership, inclusive governance, were central themes, further reinforcing the UAE's progressive vision for wealth stewardship. With global participation spanning the GCC, Europe, the U.S., and Asia, the summit reaffirmed Abu Dhabi's growing status as a premier destination for financial innovation and strategic wealth dialogue. About: Obediah Ayton, Director, Dhabi Hold Co Obediah Ayton is a seasoned executive and visionary entrepreneur whose dynamic career spans the U.S., U.K., and UAE. Born in England and educated in New York at St. John's University with a degree in Accounting and Business Management, Obediah's unconventional journey began as a caddy for corporate leaders—an experience that sparked his entry into family office advisory, particularly in emerging sectors like esports, SaaS, biotech, and crypto. Since moving to the UAE in 2017, he has launched multiple ventures, raised capital alongside prominent partners such as Mark Bezos, and founded a UAE-regulated accounting firm. He is also the driving force behind a globally recognized event series for family office gatherings. Obediah is committed to positioning the UAE as a global hub for family wealth and collaboration through what he calls 'human liquidity'—a network built on trust, learning, and shared growth. About Sandstone Media: Sandstone Media is a forward-thinking PR, media solutions and communications agency based in the UAE that is committed to excellence and offers a spectrum of integrated services, including strategic communications, media solutions and digital innovation. Sandstone Media focuses on the transformative power of storytelling and dedicates its expert team to crafting narratives that resonate and captivate audiences. LinkedIn | Instagram | Website
