Topic · updated 31.07.2026 · 6 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 have their assets 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 — including joint accounts — are frozen the moment the bank is notified of the death, and stay frozen until a court order lifts it; a will speeds up the process but does not skip the freeze.
- A will can be registered with DIFC (Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah; roughly AED 5,000–15,000 depending on the 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 — a death certificate alone isn't enough.
- There's no inheritance tax in the UAE, but assets held in the UAE and in another country (such as Russia) are handled as two separate cases with different deadlines (6 months in Russia, no fixed deadline in the UAE) and typically need two separate wills.
Since 1 February 2023, inheritance for non-Muslims in the UAE is governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 41/2022 on Civil Personal Status, not Sharia — but that default scheme (50% to the surviving spouse, the other 50% split equally among children) only applies if you haven't made other arrangements, and it doesn't always match 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 out probate or the account freeze that follows a death, but it noticeably speeds up both. Below is a map of this cluster: what applies by default, how to register a will, what happens to property and bank accounts, and how to handle assets split between the UAE and another country.
Where to start: is there a will or not
The first fork in the road is what happens to your assets if you die without a will — and why "no will" doesn't automatically mean Sharia takes everything.
- 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 to see the exact split of shares for your family composition (spouse, children, parents, siblings).
How to make a will, and what it costs
Next come the two practical questions: how much it will cost, and what the registration process actually looks like.
- 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 if you've already decided on DIFC: the documents, witnesses, and what happens after death at the probate stage.
Assets after death: property and bank accounts
Two assets cause the most confusion for a family right after a death — the apartment and the bank account — and both behave differently from what people expect based on their home country.
- 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 (including joint ones) and you need a step-by-step plan to release them.
Assets in two countries
If the deceased held assets both in the UAE and in another country such as Russia, there's no single inheritance case — you're looking at two parallel proceedings with different deadlines and legalization requirements.
- 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 rules — Sharia remains 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, but DIFC offers a more flexible range of narrow will types (property-only, guardianship-only) and is aimed primarily at assets in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah.
Do UAE bank accounts get frozen even if there's a will?
Yes — the deceased's accounts, including joint ones, are frozen automatically once the bank is notified of the death, regardless of whether a will exists. A will doesn't cancel the freeze, but it speeds up getting 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 there's no single international inheritance procedure that 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.