What Happens to a Dubai Apartment Without a Will

What happens by default

In the absence of a will, Sharia rules apply to inheriting property in the UAE. Shares are distributed according to fixed rules that often do not match the family's expectations: for example, a wife's share is limited where there are children, and part of the estate can pass to relatives in the ascending and collateral lines.

More important is this: until rights are confirmed by a court, assets are effectively frozen. Bank accounts are blocked, property can be neither sold nor leased, and if there is a mortgage on it, payments continue to accrue.

Why a foreign will does not solve the problem

A will drawn up in Russia or another country is not directly enforced in the UAE. It has to be legalised, translated and proven before a local court — a process that takes months, during which the assets remain frozen.

What DIFC Wills provides

The DIFC Wills Service registry allows you to register a will under common-law rules. It covers assets in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah and is enforced directly by the courts, without applying Sharia rules.

• Available to non-residents and does not require a residency visa
• Allows you to appoint a guardian for minor children
• Covers property, bank accounts and company shares separately
• Registration is possible remotely, by video call

A separate registry, ADJD, applies to assets in Abu Dhabi. If you hold property in different emirates, the documents are prepared for both.

When to think about it

A practical rule of thumb: if you have property in the UAE, an account with a significant balance, or a company share, and your family lives in another country — you need a will. The cost of preparing one is nowhere near the cost of an inheritance case in a foreign jurisdiction.