We are pleased to announce the merger of Oneworld Mideast with Freemont Group that has recently concluded. With effect from 1^st January 2020, the combined entity will operate externally as Freemont Oneworld Group (FOG).

The combined entity, Freemont Oneworld Group will continue to serve international and local clients in the global business and corporate services industry with a greater level of professionalism, care and diligence. Our office in Business Bay has also expanded, and we look forward to welcoming clients, old and new, to our new premises with increased business amenities to serve you better. Freemont Oneworld Group and its clients will also benefit from having a dedicated international desk with multi-lingual staff, including, English, Russian, Chinese and Ukrainian, covering all major regions and ensuring our clients are well-looked after by our team of professionals.

With its combined strength and skills, the merged entity will be well placed to provide solutions and capitalize on the opportunities presented by this new era of increased regulatory changes within the industry. The combined business will also broaden its scope of professional services, which now includes corporate and trust, tax and legal, business advisory, financial advisory, global compliance, VAT, accounting and management reporting, regulatory, family office, wealth management and asset protection.

Freemont Oneworld Group CEO Alexandros Philippides splits his time between UAE and Cyprus and is actively involved in private tax planning, economic substance-related matters and advising clients on onshore entities in the UAE. A qualified chartered accountant, Alexandros also heads FOG’s team of finance managers, Rayan Ebardo and Dhanishta Chutooree, advising clients on financial reporting, accounting and VAT-related issues.

Savvas Shiatis specializes in the setup of funds and tax-efficient Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), whilst also dealing with international structures in tax-optimized jurisdictions.

FOG Managing Director, Mahmood Tassadaq deals with fiduciary structures and entities for wide-ranging objectives including tax efficiency, asset protection and cross border transactions. Rehan Abid, Senior Manager, heads the UAE’s onshore (Mainland, Free Zone companies) and international businesses.

Freemont Oneworld Legal Consultancy, a subsidiary of Freemont Oneworld Group, is led by Ramesh Pilla renders, inter alia, legal advisory, trust and foundation formation, Wills, Intellectual Property (IP) registration and administration, trademarks and patents, legal opinions, legal advisory on cross border transactions, contracts drafting and vetting, and matters related to insolvency, substance, residency, and domiciliation.

George Philippides, Group Chairman, heads our family office services and deals with structuring and succession planning for High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs), as well as wealth management advisory and guidance. Freemont Oneworld Group oversees the setup and management of legally compliant international wealth and asset protection structures to ensure business, asset and family continuity.

The UAE, a white-listed onshore jurisdiction, offers offshore jurisdiction services as well as opportunities that exist only in mature industrial and financial hubs. International businesses moving to the UAE find themselves in a thriving market, with excellent infrastructure between the West and the developing East, and abundant opportunities to be able to generate new business.
 

The UAE offers unrivalled tax planning opportunities to international businesses, 15 to 50 years renewable tax holidays on corporation and income taxes, an impressive network of double tax treaties, no withholding tax on dividends and interest paid and no levy on capital gains.

 

UAE-registered entities in special economic zones, free zones, and international business offer 100 percent ownership and the possibility to locate business functions, obtain residence and satisfy substance requirements, as increasingly demanded by worldwide tax authorities amidst the global regulatory changes.

The Global Competitiveness 2019 Rankings published by the World Economic Forum (WEF) ranks the UAE amongst the top 25 countries in the world in term of competiveness; and the Emirati government has consistently displayed and promoted business-friendly policies and initiatives to attract and retain foreign investment.

The emirate of Dubai beat the competition and won the right to host the 2020 World Expo, another proof of its key geographical location, business significance and maturity. The six-month long event commencing in October 2020 will trigger higher levels of tourism, economic and investment activities in the UAE and boost the business environment; and Freemont Oneworld Group is well-poised to be ready and assist clients, old and new, for this uptick in business opportunities.