Topic · updated 02.09.2026 · 5 min read · Lucent Legal team
Inheritance and wills in the UAE for non-Muslims
Key points
- Since 1 February 2023, non-Muslims who die without a will in the UAE are distributed under civil law No. 41/2022, not Sharia: 50% to the surviving spouse, 50% split equally among the children.
- The deceased's UAE bank accounts — joint accounts included — freeze the moment the bank learns of the death, and stay frozen until a court order lifts it; a will speeds that up but doesn't skip the freeze.
- You can register a will with DIFC (Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah; roughly AED 5,000–15,000 depending on type) or with ADJD (Abu Dhabi; roughly AED 950/1,900 for a single/mirror will, recognized in all seven emirates).
- Transferring inherited property at the Dubai Land Department costs around AED 1,000 per property plus AED 250 for the title — but only after a court inheritance certificate, since a death certificate alone isn't enough.
- The UAE has no inheritance tax, but assets in the UAE and in another country (such as Russia) are two separate cases with different deadlines (6 months in Russia, no fixed deadline in the UAE) and usually need two separate wills.
Since 1 February 2023, inheritance for non-Muslims in the UAE runs under Federal Decree-Law No. 41/2022 on Civil Personal Status, not Sharia — but the default (50% to the surviving spouse, 50% split equally among the children) only kicks in if you've made no other arrangements, and it rarely matches what you'd actually choose. The main tool for an expat is a registered will: a DIFC will in Dubai, or an ADJD will in Abu Dhabi. It doesn't cancel probate or the account freeze that follows a death, but it speeds up both.
Where to start: is there a will or not
The first fork is what happens to your assets with no will — and why "no will" doesn't hand everything to Sharia.
- Inheritance and wills in the UAE for foreigners: DIFC will, Sharia, and your assets — start here for the full overview: what happens without a will, DIFC vs ADJD, bank accounts, property, children, and taxes in one place.
- Inheritance in the UAE without a will: the default split and expats — read this for the exact split of shares by family composition (spouse, children, parents, siblings).
How to make a will, and what it costs
Next come the practical questions: what it costs, and what registration actually involves.
- How much a will costs in Dubai: DIFC, ADJD, and court — compares the cost and coverage of all three routes so you can pick where to register.
- DIFC Will for non-Muslims: how to register it step by step — read this once you've settled on DIFC: the documents, witnesses, and what happens after death at the probate stage.
- Dubai Courts will vs DIFC will: what heirs actually receive — read this if a will is already registered with the Dubai Courts notary: probate timelines, recognition in Russia, guardianship, and what to redo.
Assets after death: property and bank accounts
Two assets cause a family the most confusion right after a death — the apartment and the bank account — and both behave differently from what people expect at home.
- What happens to a Dubai apartment after the owner dies — read this if real estate is part of the estate: shares without a will, an outstanding mortgage, transferring title at the DLD, selling remotely through a power of attorney.
- UAE bank accounts frozen after a death: how to unfreeze them — read this if a bank has already frozen accounts (joint ones included) and you need a step-by-step plan to release them.
Assets in two countries
Assets in the UAE and another country such as Russia don't form one case — they're two parallel proceedings with different deadlines and legalization rules.
- Inheritance between Russia and the UAE: handling two jurisdictions — read this if the estate is split between Dubai and Russia: deadlines, court fees, legalization, and why lawyers recommend two separate wills.
FAQ
Is it true that without a will, an expat's estate in the UAE goes to Sharia law?
No. Since 1 February 2023, non-Muslims who die without a will default to the civil regime under Law No. 41/2022 (50% to the spouse, 50% split equally among children), not Sharia — Sharia stays the mandatory default only for Muslims.
Which is cheaper — a DIFC or an ADJD will?
ADJD in Abu Dhabi is cheaper (roughly AED 950–1,900) and is recognized in all seven emirates, while DIFC offers a wider range of narrow will types (property-only, guardianship-only) and targets assets in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah.
Do UAE bank accounts get frozen even if there's a will?
Yes — the deceased's accounts, joint ones included, freeze automatically once the bank learns of the death, will or no will. A will doesn't cancel the freeze, but it speeds up the court order that lifts it.
Do you need a separate will for assets back home, such as in Russia?
Yes. Practicing lawyers generally recommend two separate documents — a DIFC or ADJD will for UAE assets, and an ordinary will through a notary at home for assets there — because no single international procedure covers both.
Sources
- Federal Decree-Law No. 41/2022 on Civil Personal Status (in force since 1 February 2023)
- DIFC Wills Service Centre — will registration fees and eligible will types
- Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) — non-Muslim will registration
- Dubai Land Department (DLD) — fees for transferring inherited property
This material is for information only and is not legal advice. UAE law changes — a lawyer will assess how it applies to your situation.