Inheritance and probate

When a UAE mortgage borrower dies, the outstanding loan does not disappear and the bank retains its security interest in the property. The debt must be settled from the estate before heirs can inherit the property free and clear.

When a joint account holder dies in the UAE, banks usually freeze the account upon receiving a death notification. The surviving account holder cannot access funds until obtaining a court order or probate document.

UAE courts apply sharia inheritance principles to all estates by default, including non-Muslims, unless a valid registered will exists. Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 allows non-Muslim expats to override this default by registering a will to direct their UAE assets according to their own wishes.

UAE inheritance law governs how your UAE-based assets are distributed when you die, regardless of your nationality or religion. Since 2022, non-Muslims have access to dedicated civil inheritance rules that allow them to direct how their estate is handled.

When an expatriate dies in the UAE without a registered will, UAE courts apply Sharia-based intestacy rules by default, regardless of the deceased's religion or nationality. This can result in asset freezes, suspended bank accounts, and unresolved guardianship of minor children until court intervention.