Rules on Wills for Non-Muslims in Dubai

After the approval of Will registration for non-Muslims in 2016, legal consultants in Dubai have been reminding their clients to register their Wills to protect their assets. Wills are crucial legal documents that contain the plans of testators regarding their assets and their beneficiaries.

Almost 8 million expats are residing in the UAE who have either set up their business in the country or invest in property to call it their home. This is why the government and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) courts recognized the need to establish an innovative legal solution for non-Muslim residents or investors.

Many expats fail to put measures in place to protect their families and their assets. All it takes is to appoint legal firms in Dubai specialized in drafting Wills to arrange the proper legal documents not just for your benefit but for your loved ones as well.

Here are the rules on Wills for non-Muslims you should know:

Asset distribution. The presence of a Will ensures that your assets are distributed as per your instructions. Many expats are unaware that in the absence of a Will, the UAE courts are obligated to apply the Sharia Law when it comes to the distribution of your moveable and immoveable assets. This will make the transferring of your assets after death costly, time-consuming, and filled with legal complexities for the person you left behind.

As per Sharia Inheritance Law, the distribution of assets shall be towards legal heirs and descendants, who may be composed of parents, siblings, spouse, children, and grandchildren. As for non-Muslims, they are given the option to choose not to apply the Sharia Inheritance Law in terms of the distribution of their assets. 

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Motei & Associates, team is among the top Dubai law firms offering a wide range of services from Wills, commercial transactions, and dispute resolutions. Call them at +971 4 435 5959 today!