Inheritance & Wills for Property Owners

If a property owner dies in Dubai, the property does not simply pass to the family overnight. There is a legal process, and without the right preparation, that process can be slow, expensive, and deeply stressful for the people left behind. There are two scenarios to consider: one where the owner has registered a will, and one where no will exists. On top of that, the rules differ for Muslims and...

Inheritance & Wills in Dubai laws are governed by three overlapping legal frameworks: Sharia law, the UAE Personal Status Law, and, for qualifying non-Muslims, Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022. When any of these apply to your estate, the Dubai Land Department cannot transfer your property until the Personal Status Court issues a succession order. That process can take months. It can strip a...