Wills & Inheritance

Wills and inheritance laws in the UAE are unique, as they blend civil law principles with Sharia law, depending on the religion and nationality of the individual. For Muslim residents, inheritance is typically governed by Sharia principles, which prescribe fixed shares for family members. For non-Muslims, recent legal reforms allow them to choose the law of their home country to govern their estate, provided a valid will is registered.

In the absence of a registered will, the estate of a deceased person may be distributed according to UAE law, which can lead to unintended outcomes—particularly for non-Muslims or expatriates with families abroad. To avoid this, individuals can create wills through the DIFC Wills Service or Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court, both of which offer non-Muslims the ability