In this article, first published in London Arabia Magazine’s January 2026 edition, Accuro’s Natacha Onawelho-Loren and Mustafa Hussain explore the topic of protecting family, assets and legacy.

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There is nothing more important than family. This is particularly true of Arab society, where family comprises a core component of that society itself. Caring for and protecting your family is therefore one of the most important mandates you will ever have.

You will take time, care and attention over a period of decades to ensure values, religion, culture, education and etiquette are imbibed into the younger members of your family. They will come to respect, admire and learn from their elders and peers; developing strong senses of identity, belonging, loyalty and legacy along the way.

When it comes to your wealth and assets, the responsibility to care for and protect your family for the long term is as equally important. Families with significant assets and multiple generations or several branches need to take a strategic approach to wealth and succession planning in order to achieve a bespoke solution that comprehensively protects their family in the optimal way.

Family Trusts

There is no universal solution to wealth planning needs, however a common option that offers several strategic benefits is a trust. A trust can ensure assets are managed and distributed in accordance with your wishes after your lifetime. It can also prevent the break-up of your asset portfolio when passed down to multiple heirs. Halting break-up in this way can ensure that the family’s portfolio and legacy is kept intact.

Another benefit of trusts is that you can express your wishes for when and how members of the family access funds or use assets and you can put in place safeguarding measures. For example, with youngsters you can require education or work experience and with young people of marriageable age you can stop reckless spending or misuse.

Tax efficiency

Certain trust structures can reduce inheritance taxes and some other taxes, so tax efficiency can be another principal draw towards using a trust. However, careful and detailed tax advice is key and should be engaged well in advance of arranging anything else.

Privacy

In the Middle East, privacy can be a principal concern for families who do not want it widely known what they own and where. Unlike Wills, trusts often avoid public probate processes, keeping family wealth and asset information confidential. This is important if you value discretion and it is possible to even restrict how much information is known to your own family members if you wish.

For Arab families who have assets not just locally in the GCC but also in London and other parts of Europe, shielding assets from creditors, lawsuits and marital disputes, as well as having them held under a unified holding structure can be a distinct advantage.

Smooth Succession

From a succession planning perspective, trusts can facilitate the smooth transition of family owned businesses. Family companies are a key component of the economy in the Arab world. Some Arab family businesses have grown over decades to the size of multinational conglomerates: but supplier, customer and banking relationships can be heavily dependent on the comfort of the family name and identity. Families and their businesses are not separate from community and society in the Arab world and so philanthropy also features prominently and is another strategic advantage of trusts. Trusts allow the enshrining of family values, legacy and giving through formal structures that are enduring and tax efficient.

What is a Trust?

Understanding what a trust is and how it works can be a challenge because they are unfamiliar to many people. They are also challenging to describe without the use of legal jargon or complex terminology. But in its essence, the easiest way to think of a trust is as follows: it is possible within the law of some territories for a person to transfer some of their property to a separate and responsible person who holds it on their behalf. This ‘responsible person’ therefore owns the property. But they do not do so for themselves. Instead they hold it for the benefit of, for example, that individual’s family. Detailed instructions as to how and for whom are set out by the individual.

This means, of course, that the relationship between the individual and the ‘responsible person’ (a trustee, such as Accuro) is a profound one, characterised by integrity, accountability, responsibility and duty. This is what a trust arrangement is all about.

How do Trusts Help?

The trust fulfils the individual’s objectives of protecting their property and family in a planned way, since if they die, their wishes are followed and their property is preserved. The property in the trust can be real estate, company shares, investments, art, jewellery, cash or other assets. Assets will be managed by specialist wealth and asset managers externally. It is an advantage (avoiding conflict of interest) to have this done by someone other than the trustee.

Accuro is driven by a vision of being a progressive force for good for families, for our staff and for our industry as a whole. As a trust company, we take a long term perspective over generations and we focus only on serving private clients. Families are at the heart of our business. A true understanding of the complex dynamics of Arabian families and their assets is only achieved through expertise, experience and trusted relationships built over years.

Arabian Families

There are many ‘layers’ of knowledge, insight and expertise that a trustee needs, in order to understand, anticipate the needs of and dutifully fulfil the requirements of an Arab family. Regional and global geopolitics and international public relations have an impact on the choice of law and place of administration of a family trust (ensuring safe harbour).

Culture and family values, the family name and aspirations for legacy and philanthropy (such as Zakat, Sadaqa or support for the arts and culture, aid or local community) are key considerations. Knowledge of the intended or unintended impact of Islamic heirship rules (Faraid) in the home country and in other territories, where assets are located, are vitally important to know and anticipate.

Within the family itself, dynamics are sometimes spoken about and sometimes not: they can be related to relationships between older and younger members of the family, interactions between spouses, the role of eldest children and the protection of minors or family members with special learning needs, disabilities, medical conditions or other unique circumstances that mean they are dependent on care.

Caring and Protecting

At Accuro, we commit to enduring relationships with the families who appoint us. We take a long term approach and knowing, anticipating and planning for the diverse range of needs of Arab families in a proactive, insightful and holistic manner is important to us.

Our award-winning service is particularly known for its commitment to serving the Middle East and Women in Wealth initiatives, which is why we are distinctly proud to partner with London Arabia and the Arab Women’s Summit in 2026.

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For more information about our bespoke services, please contact Natacha Onawelho-Loren or Mustafa Hussain.

Across the Middle East, families increasingly recognise the advantages of using trusts as the ownership “vehicle” for holding and managing assets located around the world. Trusts provide exceptional flexibility in estate and succession planning, allowing structures to evolve in step with a family’s changing needs, goals and global footprint.

Among the many decisions involved in establishing a trust, selecting the right trustee is arguably the most significant. Once a trust is established, the trustee assumes legal ownership and responsibility for managing the assets, acting not only as steward but as key guardian of the family’s legacy.

While the concept of a trust dates back to the 12th century, where wealthy landowners would transfer property to a trusted person (the trustee), the principle remains the same to this day when choosing a trustee. It should be someone you genuinely trust.

Here are my seven key steps to finding the right trustee.

1) Reputation

Don’t just take a well-known brand at face value. A proven track record and/or recommendation from a reliable source can provide substance. Ask for guidance from your trusted advisers: they are likely to know from experience and  from working in the industry who the reliable partners are in the region. Once you have a selection of names, check the company’s website, what they stand for and whether they are based in a stable and reputable jurisdiction. As part of your decision-making process, ask for the company’s regulatory ‘bill of health’ and any regulatory issues they may have encountered in the past five years.

2) Independence

A trustee must be able to act in the best interest of the beneficiaries of the trust. This objectivity is key to ensuring that the trustee’s decision-making process is based solely on the provisions outlined in the trust and not on personal or financial interest in the trust or its assets. Therefore, a trustee should be free of conflict of interest.

Such conflicts may arise, for example, where the only trustees are members of one family. Even with the very best of intentions, it can sometimes be difficult and stressful for a family member to be impartial and objective when making decisions that will inevitably impact other family members. Appointing a third-party independent trustee alongside that family member can minimise the risk of such conflict arising and also provide a much-needed objective sounding board, as well as regulatory and professional standard.  

Another instance is when trust’s assets are managed in-house (i.e. either by the trustee itself or by a connected entity to the trustee). Normally trust’s assets are managed by a third-party bank/asset managers appointed by the trustee with the trustee monitoring the performance of that bank/asset manager.) Practically, it might be difficult in these circumstances for the trustee to demonstrate independent decision making and a lack of financial interest in the assets (in the form of management and other fees deriving from the investment management mandates accruing to the trustee or its connected entity).

Good practice requires a complete separation of activity with the trustee’s eye firmly on the monitoring of the investment performance. However, if there is no alternative to entrusting the investment mandate in-house or to a connected entity, transparency over the investment process, strong ‘ethical walls’ and ongoing and rigorous performance monitoring by the trustee is essential. This will serve to reassure beneficiaries as to independent decision making, strong reporting process and afford the trustees a clear accountability path towards beneficiaries to demonstrate that they are acting in the best interest of the beneficiaries and not theirs.

3) Expertise

In an increasingly complex world, your trustee must strive to be aware of the latest legal/regulatory developments that may impact your structure, especially important in the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) where there are complex regulatory requirements. Access to a  knowledge pool, whether in-house or external, for issues as diverse as property transactions, tax and regulatory developments in relevant jurisdictions is essential. A thorough trustee will aim to ensure that there is continuous monitoring of the developments impacting the trust and be ready to discuss this with you and any changes that require to be made to adapt the structure to the new environment.

4) Stability/employee turnover

A trust is set up with long-term goals in mind, so it is important that your trustee also has a long-term lens and track record. When was the company established? Who are its ultimate owners? What are their long-term plans?

Another key element is staff turnover. Families rightly expect a continuing, personal, long-term relationship with a trustee who they know and who knows them, their family history, values and goals. Enquiring about staff turnover will  give you an insight into the internal makeup  and culture of the trustee company and should strive to reassure you as to the continuity of your trustee relationship.

5) A proactive approach

Aim to have at least one meeting annually with your trustee for a full debrief on the trust’s activities and an opportunity to share updates on your family situation. For example, if some family members are planning to move to a different country as this could have a major impact on the trust. Additionally, a trustee should be willing to provide challenge (with good intent), offer alternative views and ask the difficult questions. You want a trustee who has a pro-active and personal approach  so that your communication is meaningful and effective.

6) Cyber safe – strong and rigorous internal processes

Arguably, one of the most important areas to cover with your trustee. Enquire about the trustee’s data security and storage approach and how well any technical processes are supported by regular staff training and awareness. Make sure you are happy with any internal procedures to sign off on payments, using  rigorous internal protocols such as the ‘four eyes’ principle – where internal payments are signed and approved by two people – call backs and email encryption.

7) Cost transparent

Quite rightly, costs must be considered when appointing a trustee, but get the balance right. A good trustee will need to uphold the integrity of the structure put in place. This means adequate meetings, record-keeping and regulatory and legislative monitoring to ensure your family trust is well managed and able to stand the test of time. This means a certain cost. A reputable trustee company, however, should also be able to provide you with complete transparency in relation to those costs, so that you can see exactly what you are paying for and why it is worthwhile.

Conclusion

Choosing your trustee is one of the most important decisions that you make for yourself and your family. Probe, do your research and invest the time to get to know the prospective trustee company well. Once comfortable with your choice, be aware that this is the start, not the end of the journey.

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For more information about our bespoke services, please contact Natacha Onawelho-Loren.