{"id":4381,"date":"2026-10-10T06:04:08","date_gmt":"2026-10-10T06:04:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/real-dubai.com\/will-dubai-property"},"modified":"2026-10-10T16:19:21","modified_gmt":"2026-10-10T16:19:21","slug":"will-dubai-property","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/real-dubai.com\/en\/will-dubai-property","title":{"rendered":"A will in Dubai: why you need one as a property owner"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"4381\" class=\"elementor elementor-4381 elementor-4076\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-266587a e-con-full page-content rd-col e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"266587a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-886fc43 e-con-full rdf e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"886fc43\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a82b11a e-con-full rd-faq-hero e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a82b11a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6faaa67 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6faaa67\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"rdf-eb\">Guide \u00b7 Inheritance<\/div><h1>A will in Dubai: why you need one as a property owner<\/h1><p>Nobody likes talking about death. But if you own property in Dubai, you should decide what happens to it \u2013 otherwise the law decides. Here you\u2019ll find out what applies without a will, how to register one by video call and why it has to fit with the rules in your home country.<\/p><p class=\"rdf-meta\">Updated: October 2026 \u00b7 Reading time approx. 6 minutes<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5847955 e-con-full rdf-article e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5847955\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-56c7b3a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"56c7b3a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"rdf-short\"><b>In short:<\/b> We clearly recommend a will in Dubai. You can register it with the DIFC Courts Wills Service \u2013 without UAE residence and entirely by video call. It decides who gets your property. Make sure it fits with your will and the inheritance and tax rules at home.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2bcd1a6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2bcd1a6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div aria-label=\"Contents\" class=\"rdf-toc\"><strong>In this guide<\/strong><ol><li><a href=\"#ohne-testament\">What happens without a will<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#unklar\">The open question for owners living abroad<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#difc\">Registering a will with the DIFC Courts<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#deutschland\">Inheritance tax: your home country decides<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#schritte\">Your next steps<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#fragen\">FAQ<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<section class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c929372 e-con-full rdf-sec e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c929372\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a3e6d6c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a3e6d6c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 id=\"ohne-testament\">What happens in Dubai without a will<\/h2><p>Since February 2023, a separate federal law has applied to non-Muslim foreigners. It determines who inherits if there is no will:<\/p><ul class=\"rdf-check\"><li>The spouse inherits half.<\/li><li>The other half is shared equally among the children \u2013 sons and daughters alike.<\/li><\/ul><div class=\"rdf-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Example: spouse and two children<\/th><th>Share<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody>\n<tr><td>Spouse<\/td><td>50%<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Child 1<\/td><td>25%<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Child 2<\/td><td>25%<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/div><p>At first glance, that sounds fair. But does it suit your situation? Perhaps you want to provide better for your spouse, consider children from different relationships or include someone who doesn\u2019t appear in this rule at all. That is exactly what a will is for.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<section class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d54e614 e-con-full rdf-sec e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d54e614\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4c2b6b3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4c2b6b3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 id=\"unklar\">The open question for owners living abroad<\/h2><p>According to its wording, the law applies to foreigners who live in the UAE. Whether it also applies to owners who live abroad has not been conclusively settled.<\/p><p>If it doesn\u2019t, the UAE\u2019s general inheritance rules may apply \u2013 and these are based on Islamic law: fixed shares, sons inherit twice as much as daughters, and the spouse receives only a small portion. In addition, the property may be frozen until a court has settled the succession. For your family, that can take months.<\/p><div class=\"rdf-warn\"><b>Note:<\/b> This uncertainty is the best reason for a will. If you clearly decide what happens to your property in Dubai, you don\u2019t have to hope that the courts will later interpret the law in your favour.<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<section class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b1276ff e-con-full rdf-sec e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b1276ff\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d9fdec1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d9fdec1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 id=\"difc\">Registering a will with the DIFC Courts<\/h2><p>The DIFC Courts are the courts of the Dubai International Financial Centre. They run a Wills Service specifically for non-Muslims. The best part:<\/p><ul class=\"rdf-check\"><li>You don\u2019t need UAE residence.<\/li><li>Registration can be done entirely by video call \u2013 witnesses can also join from abroad.<\/li><\/ul><p>For property, a Property Will is usually sufficient; it covers up to five properties in the UAE. If you also want to cover bank accounts, company shares or guardianship of your children, there is the more comprehensive Full Will. The fees depend on the type of will; the current list is on the DIFC Courts website.<\/p><p>So you don\u2019t have to fly to Dubai to arrange your will.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<section class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5c6ac7f e-con-full rdf-sec e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5c6ac7f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a2cb71 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7a2cb71\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 id=\"deutschland\">Inheritance tax: your home country decides<\/h2><p>There is no inheritance or gift tax in the UAE. That doesn\u2019t necessarily mean your heirs are tax-free.<\/p><p>Many countries levy inheritance or gift tax on worldwide assets if the deceased or the heir lives there \u2013 including property in Dubai. Other countries have abolished inheritance tax. Your home country\u2019s inheritance law may also contain rules such as forced heirship for children that your Dubai will should take into account.<\/p><div class=\"rdf-note\"><b>Plain talk:<\/b> A will in Dubai determines <em>who<\/em> inherits your property there. How much tax is due at home, and whether the will fits your home country\u2019s inheritance law, is a separate question. So coordinate your Dubai will with your will at home and speak to a lawyer and a tax adviser in your country of residence.<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<section class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c317770 e-con-full rdf-sec e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c317770\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b61928e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b61928e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 id=\"schritte\">Your next steps<\/h2><ol class=\"rdf-steps\">\n<li><b>Think about what you want:<\/b> Who should inherit your property in Dubai \u2013 and in what shares?<\/li>\n<li><b>Look at your will at home:<\/b> Both wills should fit together and not contradict each other.<\/li>\n<li><b>Register your will with the DIFC Courts:<\/b> by video call, without UAE residence.<\/li>\n<li><b>Clarify the legal and tax side at home:<\/b> with a lawyer and a tax adviser in your country of residence.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-21973e6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"21973e6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"rdf-cta\"><div><span class=\"rdf-badge\">At no extra cost for our buyers<\/span><h3>We help you with your will<\/h3><p>If you buy with us, we help you draw up your will at no extra cost. You only pay the official DIFC Courts fees.<\/p><\/div><a class=\"rdf-btn\" href=\"#rdwa\">Ask on WhatsApp<\/a><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<section class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cc83db1 e-con-full rdf-sec e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cc83db1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-951534f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"951534f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 id=\"fragen\">FAQ<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7fbe4d8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7fbe4d8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"rdf-q\"><h3>Does my will at home also cover my property in Dubai?<\/h3><p>You shouldn\u2019t rely on it. A will registered in Dubai creates clarity for your property there. What matters is that both wills fit together.<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-40f5dd7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"40f5dd7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"rdf-q\"><h3>Do I have to travel to Dubai for the will?<\/h3><p>No. With the DIFC Courts Wills Service, registration can be done entirely by video call.<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5fe9a14 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5fe9a14\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"rdf-q\"><h3>Will my heirs pay inheritance tax in Dubai?<\/h3><p>No, there is no inheritance tax in the UAE. Whether inheritance tax is due in your home country or your heirs\u2019 country depends on the rules there.<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ae353fc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ae353fc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"rdf-sources\"><h2>Sources<\/h2><ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/uaelegislation.gov.ae\/en\/legislations\/1586\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 on Civil Personal Status, Articles 1 and 11<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.withersworldwide.com\/en-gb\/insight\/read\/estate-planning-for-non-muslims-and-residents-in-the-uae\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Withers law firm on the position of non-residents (October 2024)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.difccourts.ae\/about\/faq\/wills-faq\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">DIFC Courts: Wills FAQ (types of will, video call, fees)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/u.ae\/en\/information-and-services\/finance-and-investment\/taxation\/other-taxes\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Government portal u.ae: Other taxes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/taxsummaries.pwc.com\/united-arab-emirates\/individual\/other-taxes\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">PwC Tax Summaries: UAE, Other taxes<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0837bd1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0837bd1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"rdf-disclaimer\">Updated: October 2026. This guide summarises the legal position in general terms and does not replace legal or tax advice in individual cases.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8a2837d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8a2837d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"rdf-related\"><strong>Read on<\/strong><a href=\"\/en\/buy-ready-property-dubai\">Buying a ready property<\/a><a href=\"\/en\/golden-visa-dubai-property\">Golden Visa with property<\/a><a href=\"\/en\/faq\">FAQ about buying property in Dubai<\/a><a href=\"\/en\/contact\">Free strategy call<\/a><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What happens to your Dubai property without a will, how to register one with the DIFC Courts by video call and why it must fit the rules at home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3865,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4381","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/real-dubai.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4381","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/real-dubai.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/real-dubai.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/real-dubai.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/real-dubai.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4381"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/real-dubai.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4381\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4382,"href":"https:\/\/real-dubai.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4381\/revisions\/4382"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/real-dubai.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3865"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/real-dubai.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4381"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/real-dubai.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4381"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/real-dubai.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4381"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}