UAE Wills & Estate Planning

If you own property, hold investments, operate a business or have other assets in the UAE, proper estate planning is an important part of protecting your family and ensuring that your affairs are handled in accordance with your wishes. UAE succession rules differ depending on several factors, including your religion, nationality, place of residence, the location and type of your assets, and whether you have a valid will in place. NHBC assists UAE residents and international investors in understanding their estate-planning options and coordinating the preparation and registration of UAE wills. Where legal advice or will drafting is required, we work together with specialised UAE law firms and qualified wills and estate-planning professionals to ensure that the appropriate structure and registration route is selected for each client. Why Consider a UAE Will? Owning assets in the UAE does not necessarily mean that the inheritance arrangements you have made in another country can simply be applied in the UAE without further formalities. A foreign will may be recognised by the UAE courts, subject to the applicable legal requirements. However, its use in the UAE can require additional procedures, including legal translation, authentication and local probate proceedings. For many individuals with UAE assets, registering a will through an appropriate UAE authority can provide greater certainty as to how those assets should be administered and distributed after death. Depending on your circumstances, a UAE will can help you:

• determine how your UAE assets should be distributed;
• nominate beneficiaries;
• appoint an executor to administer your estate;
• make appropriate arrangements for UAE real estate, bank accounts, investments and company shares;
• address guardianship arrangements for minor children where applicable; and
• reduce uncertainty and unnecessary administrative complications for your family.

   

UAE Real Estate

Estate planning is particularly important for individuals who own real estate in the UAE.

A property does not simply transfer to a nominated family member because that person is mentioned in a foreign document or because the beneficiaries have agreed among themselves. Following the owner’s death, the relevant succession and probate procedures must be completed before ownership can be transferred. A properly structured UAE estate plan can help establish in advance how the owner wishes the property to be dealt with, subject to the applicable inheritance and property laws. This is relevant not only to UAE residents but also to international investors who own UAE property while living overseas.

How NHBC Can Assist

NHBC provides a central point of coordination for clients who wish to organise their UAE estate planning. Depending on your circumstances, we can assist with:

• reviewing your UAE asset and ownership structure;
• identifying the appropriate will-registration route;
• coordinating with specialised UAE law firms and qualified wills professionals;
• arranging the preparation and review of the required documentation;
• coordinating will-registration appointments;
• assisting with documentation relating to UAE property and company ownership;
• coordinating legal translation, notarisation and attestation where required; and
• liaising with the relevant professionals and authorities throughout the process.

   

NHBC does not replace specialist legal counsel. Where legal advice, interpretation of inheritance law or bespoke drafting of a will is required, this work is undertaken in cooperation with appropriately qualified legal professionals. Plan Ahead Estate planning is best addressed while your personal and financial affairs are straightforward. Whether you live in the UAE or simply own assets here, putting the appropriate arrangements in place can provide greater certainty for you and your family and make the administration of your UAE estate considerably clearer. Speak to NHBC about your UAE estate-planning requirements and we will help you determine the appropriate next steps.