In today's global economy, business owners and investors often require privacy or need to meet local directorship requirements. Professional nominee services offer a compliant and discreet solution, ensuring confidentiality while fulfilling all legal and regulatory obligations.
Zetland can provide experienced professionals to act as nominee directors and, in specific, appropriate circumstances, nominee shareholders for companies incorporated in Hong Kong and Singapore. Our approach is founded on a fundamental principle: to balance the legitimate need for confidentiality with strict adherence to compliance standards and transparent governance.
We establish a clear and legally sound framework for each nominee appointment, ensuring all risks are identified, managed, and controlled. Our service includes a documented mandate defining the nominee's role and a schedule of reserved matters that require the explicit approval of the ultimate beneficial owner.
We operate under strict Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) procedures and establish a regular reporting cadence to maintain clear communication. Our professional nominees always act in strict accordance with the law and their fiduciary duties, with every decision and action supported by formal board resolutions and proper records. . We do not provide nominee services for high-risk activities and our appointments are always contingent on full transparency regarding the company's ultimate beneficial ownership and its intended business activities.
Appointing a professional nominee director is a common and legitimate practice in Hong Kong, especially for international investors seeking privacy. Our nominee director service is designed to meet this need while ensuring full compliance with the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance. Each nominee appointment is governed by a detailed service agreement and a power of attorney, which carefully delineates the powers and responsibilities of the nominee. We work with our clients to create a comprehensive list of reserved matters, ensuring that any significant corporate actions, such as entering into major contracts, altering the company's capital structure, or opening bank accounts, require the prior written consent of the beneficial owner. This ensures that ultimate control of the company remains firmly with our client.
Singapore's corporate law requires every private limited company to appoint at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore. Our professional nominee director service is designed to help international businesses meet this statutory requirement in a compliant and well-governed manner. Our Singapore-based nominee directors are qualified professionals who are fully versed in their duties and responsibilities under the Singapore Companies Act. The primary purpose of our service is to ensure your company fulfils its legal obligations, thereby maintaining its compliance and good standing with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA).
The terms of each nominee directorship are clearly defined in a formal service agreement. This agreement, along with a carefully drafted indemnity, protects all parties and establishes a clear framework for the nominee's limited role. A key feature of our service is the implementation of a 'two-signature' policy for all company bank accounts, meaning that the nominee director cannot operate the account unilaterally. This provides a crucial layer of security and control for the beneficial owner.
All our nominee appointments are conditional on our firm being appointed as the company secretary, which allows us to maintain full oversight of the company's statutory compliance and governance. We conduct thorough due diligence on all clients, in line with the strict AML/CFT regulations set by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Our professional and compliance-led approach ensures that your use of a nominee director in Singapore is structured in a way that is transparent and acceptable to local banks and regulatory authorities, providing a stable and reliable foundation for your business operations in the region.
Nominee director services are legally permitted in the UAE and commonly used in offshore and free zone company setups. These arrangements offer a practical solution for investors seeking privacy, regulatory compliance, and operational flexibility. While nominee directors do not participate in management, they act as formal representatives of the beneficial owner.
Each appointment is governed by a clear service agreement that defines the nominee's role and limitations. At Zetland we provide trusted nominee arrangements that meet legal requirements while preserving full control for the beneficial owner. A nominee director is appointed to appear on public records, fulfilling statutory obligations without participating in day-to-day management.
This structure is ideal for foreign investors, high-net-worth individuals, and holding companies that value discretion or require a local presence for licensing or banking. Our nominee services are governed by strict legal agreements that define the director's limited, non-executive role. We ensure full compliance with UAE laws, including UBO disclosure, Economic Substance Regulations (ESR), and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) obligations. Clients retain full operational authority while benefiting from a compliant and discreet structure.
Zetland Fiduciary Group operates a global network of offices to support clients across key international financial hubs. Whether you are seeking guidance on company formation, trust administration, accounting, or cross-border transactions, our local experts in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, and London are ready to assist.
Contact any of our offices directly for tailored advice and seamless service.