If you own assets in the UAE (real estate, bank accounts, brokerage accounts, companies, etc.), it is recommended to draft a will to ensure their preservation for your heirs. Without such a specific will, all assets will be distributed according to Sharia laws.
A Brief Overview of Inheritance Rules in the UAE
The approximate distribution of inheritance under Sharia law is as follows:
- The largest share goes to the son: 36.11%
- Daughter: 18.06%
- Parents (if both are alive): 16.67% each
- Spouse: 12.5% (1/8)
- Brother: 0%
However, actual distribution depends on the specific case and categories of heirs, with priority typically given to male relatives, such as sons and fathers.
By drafting a will, you can establish inheritance arrangements that are optimal for you and your family. This allows you to distribute assets in a manner similar to Russian legislation (equally among heirs) or as per your preferences.
DIFC Court and Will Certification
The UAE has established a special court, the DIFC Court, to certify wills for non-Muslims (expats), ensuring their legal validity in inheritance cases. This provides an alternative, simplified certification process with equal legal force as traditional will certification procedures in the UAE.
Advantages of DIFC Certification:
The process can be conducted entirely online, eliminating the need for personal presence in the UAE (for certain types of wills, certification is exclusively online).
Types of Wills in the UAE
The following types of wills can be certified at the DIFC Court:
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Guardianship Will
- A will where all assets are distributed to children. Guardians (of various types) are appointed as nominal trustees to manage assets according to the testator’s wishes in the children’s interests.
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Property Will
- A will concerning real estate (up to 5 properties).
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Business Owners Will
- A will concerning companies (shares) in the UAE, including Free Zone companies (up to 5 companies).
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Financial Assets Will
- A will concerning personal and joint bank accounts in the UAE (up to 10 accounts) held in banks or brokerage firms (accounts/securities must be movable assets generating income deposited into these accounts).
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Full Will
- A comprehensive will covering all assets in the UAE and abroad.
These wills can be:
- Single Will: For individuals not married or wishing to allocate only their personal assets.
- Mirror DIFC Will: For spouses/parents who wish to draft a joint will.
The will is issued as an electronic document available for download anytime after certification. Certified copies can be requested and paid for separately.
Our Services
We assist with the drafting and certification of wills, minimizing your expenses for local legal services.
Cost of Local Legal Services:
For example, the cost of local legal services for drafting a simple will (e.g., Financial Assets Will) ranges from 4,500 to 7,500 AED, payable only in local currency. Additionally, supplementary services may sometimes be offered, which may not always be necessary.
Our Services Include:
- Consultation and assistance in choosing the appropriate type of will.
- Drafting the will in accordance with the testator’s wishes.
- Providing witnesses for will certification (two witnesses are required).
- Requesting a certified copy of the will (optional, if needed).
Service cost: From 115,000 RUB (depending on the type of will, number of heirs/assets).
DIFC Court Fee: Additional DIFC Court fees range from 5,000 to 10,000 AED, depending on the type of will. Fees are payable only via a link provided by the DIFC Court using a bank card.
