Welcome to the September edition of the Sovereign Report, where we bring together the latest insights, opportunities and regulatory developments affecting internationally minded businesses, investors and private clients.
This month, we explore a diverse range of topics across corporate services, private wealth, tax planning and global mobility. From the advantages of Isle of Man limited partnerships for Irish businesses and Cyprus’ continued appeal as a hub for holding and intellectual property structures, to practical guidance on creating investor-ready businesses in Africa and using escrow solutions to secure complex transactions, our specialists provide valuable perspectives for an evolving international landscape.
We also examine the growing prominence of family offices in Dubai, important changes to the UK Trust Registration Service, and new residency planning considerations in Malta and Portugal. In our tax section, we cover developments in Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Mauritius and Portugal, while our human resources team shares guidance on managing workplace challenges in the UAE.
Elsewhere, we celebrate the impact of the Sovereign Art Foundation Malta & Gozo, highlight Sovereign PPG’s new QFC licence in Qatar, and conclude with our latest 5 Questions With… feature, introducing Debbie Hung from the Sovereign Art Foundation in Hong Kong.
We hope you enjoy this edition and encourage you to explore the articles most relevant to your business, wealth and international planning objectives.
CORPORATE SERVICES
Isle of Man Limited Partnerships can provide a highly flexible structure for Irish businesses
Cyprus remains the leading platform for holding, financing and IP owning structures
How African Startups Can Build an Investor-Ready Structure
Secure every transaction: Escrow Case Studies across Property, Trade and Share Transactions
CORPORATE SERVICES – MIDDLE EAST
Choosing an SPV, Holding Company or Foundation in the UAE
Bahrain strengthens its intellectual property framework
ADGM Commercial Law Changes from 22 25 September 2026
How to Transfer Company Shares/Ownership in Qatar
UAE Expansion: Investment Beyond Dubai & Abu Dhabi
How to Redomicile a BVI Company to ADGM
HUMAN RESOURCES NEWS
How to manage employee underperformance in the UAE
The UAE private-sector workforce grew by 12.4% in 2025, with employment rising by a further 2.5% in the first quarter of 2026. Businesses are continuing to expand, yet finding the right people remains a concern, with 43% of UAE CEOs identifying skills shortages as one of their biggest challenges. The people businesses have already recruited and developed therefore carry considerable commercial value.
Keeping those employees performing well is part of protecting that investment as businesses grow and the demands of individual roles change. Where performance begins to fall, understanding why and whether it can be recovered can make more commercial sense than moving too quickly towards replacement.
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILTY NEWS
Sovereign Art Foundation Malta & Gozo: Living what we stand for
The Sovereign Art Foundation (SAF) Malta & Gozo recently visited the Camp Willingness Summer Camp, as part of its commitment to supporting local initiatives that promote inclusion, creativity, and personal development to make a meaningful impact on the lives of children from diverse social backgrounds.
Led by a team of dedicated psychologists and educators, Camp Willingness offers a safe, structured and engaging environment where children aged four to 12 build confidence, emotional skills, friendships and independence through themed activities, play and real-life learning experiences.
SOVEREIGN GROUP NEWS
Sovereign PPG secures QFC Licence, strengthening support for regional and global investors
Sovereign PPG, the UAE’s leading business formation and corporate services provider, has secured a licence to operate within the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), further expanding its footprint across the country. This milestone reinforces Sovereign PPG’s position as a trusted partner for investors, family offices and multinational corporations seeking regional and cross-border opportunities.
5 QUESTIONS WITH...
Debbie Hung, Operations and Events Executive, The Sovereign Art Foundation (Hong Kong)
Hong Kong’s art world runs on contrast: Art Basel glamour on one side, garden workshops for disadvantaged children on the other. Debbie Hung moves between both as Operations and Events Executive at the Sovereign Art Foundation, having crossed over from commercial galleries and arts education into the charity side of the industry. She helps run the Sovereign Asian Art Prize, more than two decades old, and stays close to the Make It Better programme that reaches nearly 200 children, caregivers and social workers every week. We talk to Debbie about gala season and the grassroots work that stays with her longest.
Please contact us if you have any questions or queries and your local representative will be in touch with you as soon as possible.
