Foreign Ownership and Inheritance Rights in the UAE

In the UAE, foreign property buyers find themselves in a special situation. There is a section of the law based on Sharia law that governs how property passes to the family after the owner’s death. Previously, everyone had to follow these rules. For example, if foreigners owned an apartment in Dubai, it was distributed that way, even if they had not planned for it. Now the laws have changed. Non-Muslims can opt out of the Sharia inheritance law in UAE, but this requires taking certain legal steps. When you know about these options in advance, it’s easier to avoid surprises and unnecessary financial problems.

How Expats Can Legally Purchase and Hold Property in the UAE

Expatriates are permitted to acquire real estate within the Emirates, though solely inside regions authorized for non-citizen ownership. A villa in Dubai Marina grants a full freehold title, while zones such as Deira remain restricted. Dubai pioneered the freehold system with Law No. 7 of 2006. It opened districts like Palm Jumeirah and Marina to international buyers.

Foreign purchasers receive ownership records through the Dubai Land Department and may vend, lease, or mortgage their property without limitation.

Other parts of the city offer, according to the inheritance law in UAE, long-term ownership rights, often up to 99 years. Under it, buyers may use the property without actual ownership.

Abu Dhabi implemented a similar framework. Now, it allows non-citizen freehold ownership in areas such as Saadiyat Island and Yas Island.

Despite these ownership privileges, holding a title deed does not guarantee that the property will pass according to the owner’s wishes upon death.

Without a registered will in UAE, Sharia inheritance law in UAE applies automatically.

Inheritance and Estate Distribution Principles

UAE succession law runs on three principles. They automatically control how houses and other possessions transfer after passing away, unless migrants exercise the UAE inheritance law for expats.

Sharia law in UAE is its base. This legal framework uses fixed calculations to figure out asset allocations. The calculations stem from the UAE’s family law framework. It governs marriage, guardianship, and succession.

Three principles control inheritance law in UAE:

• Mandatory shares for blood relatives. Sons, daughters, parents, and sometimes siblings automatically receive fixed percentages. You can't disinherit these legal heirs under Sharia. It’s a form of forced heirship. Here, specific relatives must receive defined portions of the estate.
• Limited testamentary freedom. Muslims can allocate only 1/3 of their estate through a will. The rest is distributed according to Sharia.
• Gender-based allocation. Male beneficiaries generally receive double the amount that female beneficiaries inherit.

Historically, two federal personal status laws from 1985 and 2005 meant that Islamic inheritance rules applied to everyone living in the UAE. These were built into the country's civil code, so Sharia principles covered all residents by default. But things changed significantly in 2022, especially for people who weren't Muslims.

Now, expatriates who are hoping to avoid Sharia-based distribution must take formal action, most commonly through a professionally recorded will for non Muslim in UAE.

Write a Will as a Non-Muslim

When it comes to registering wills Dubai, there are two main places you can go. The Courts deal with the regular onshore system. Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has its own independent framework operating in a special zone. Among foreigners living here, DIFC tends to be the smarter choice. They let you use laws from back home rather than sticking to the typical Islamic regulations.

Getting things officially registered keeps your property safe. If you don’t do this, the inheritance law in UAE will work by default, and that happens no matter where you’re from or what you personally believe.

How to Protect Your UAE Assets

First, you need to understand the essence of inheritance law in UAE and what regulations apply to your specific situation. This depends on a few things: where you're from and, most importantly, where exactly the property sits. A house in Business Bay has its own set of rules to follow, but if you’re dealing with a property in Dubai Hills Estate, you're looking at a whole different setup.

Next, draft a UAE-specific will. Create a separate will that clearly lists all your UAE-based assets: bank accounts, real estate, and any other property located here. This planning addresses common expat concerns, like inheritance tax, which the UAE doesn’t impose, so your heirs won’t face tax burdens on what they inherit.

Registration comes after drafting. DIFC Wills Service Centre handles wills created by non-Muslims in Dubai. Abu Dhabi Global Market serves Abu Dhabi residents. Mainland Dubai Courts deal with wills outside DIFC zones. The registration costs around 10,000 dirhams and takes two to three weeks.

When dealing with these complications, professional help makes all the difference. Working with ExecDubai for wills & succession planning in UAE means your documents meet local requirements.

Joint Property and Will Recognition in the UAE

Many people think joint property automatically goes to the surviving spouse. That’s not how it works in the UAE. Each owner keeps their portion, but the deceased’s share has to go through the inheritance process, which can last a year or longer. Same story with joint bank accounts: the surviving owner only accesses their half, while the rest stays locked until probate wraps up.

Another misunderstanding about inheritance law in UAE is assuming a foreign will relates to assets in the Emirates. It doesn’t. Only a valid UAE will for expats hold up legally here. Verbal wishes or casual agreements mean nothing; you need proper documentation.

For a compliant and stress-free process, ExecDubai can assist with all aspects of wills, inheritance planning, and document registration.