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Find out moreThis comprehensive guide is designed to help you navigate the intricate landscape of family business and private wealth in the Middle East, where family businesses constitute approximately 60% of GDP and employ 80% of the workforce in the GCC, offering unparalleled opportunities for wealth creation and preservation.
Packed with insights, strategies, and expert advice from our talented lawyers, Legacy provides tailored solutions to the unique challenges of asset protection, succession planning, and dispute resolution in this dynamic region.Read the publication and equip yourself with the knowledge and tools necessary to thrive, whether you’re a seasoned investor, a family business owner, part of the next generation, or a newcomer exploring opportunities in the region.
Read NowAre you an expatriate residing in the UAE?
Would you like to protect the well-being of those you care for most?
You may be pleased to learn the distribution of an individual’s estate will now take place according to the laws of the country of which the individual is a citizen, instead of the application of UAE law (which codifies Islamic Sharia principles on inheritance). An exception to this however would still remain with respect to UAE real estate, which shall continue to be subject to UAE laws, unless a Will has been registered in the UAE.
Lately, the Personal Status Law has undergone revisions, by way of Federal Decree number 29 of 2020.
Also, the Civil Code has been revised, by way of Federal Decree number 30 of 2020.
These changes to the local regime allow the application of the local law of the home countries of UAE resident expatriates to inheritance of their UAE estate, in absence of a registered will in the UAE.
The following movable property is subject to the new laws, in particular:
If you hold real estate assets in the UAE, then it is imperative that you register a UAE Will.
The options that are available to you are as follows:
If you are non-Muslim, having a locally registered will would create legal certainty for the inheritance of your assets after death and the appointment of guardians for the minor children, if any.
What can be more important than having a testamentary freedom to dispose of your assets as you wish, and having a peace of mind that an individual’s estate will be distributed according to their wishes?
Although the recent changes in local law are helpful, in order to truly protect your interests it is crucial that you:
Our specialist team at Al Tamimi & Company Corporate Services will be delighted to assist you in this regard.
To learn more about our services and get the latest legal insights from across the Middle East and North Africa region, click on the link below.