Recent UAE civil-law changes make succession planning especially important for expatriates with property, bank accounts or a business. The treatment of assets where there are no eligible heirs, and the ability of a person aged 15 or older to seek court approval to manage assets, depend on the applicable law and a competent authority’s decision.
Why expatriates should plan succession
Owning an apartment, maintaining a UAE bank account or operating a company creates a practical succession question as well as a family one. A will can record the owner’s wishes and give the relevant authority a clearer document to consider. It does not replace the legal process, and its wording should be checked against the law that applies to the person and each asset.
Assets where there are no eligible heirs
Under the updated framework described by the UAE legislation, where an expatriate has no legal heirs, financial assets may be directed to a charitable endowment, or Awqaf, under the supervision of the competent authorities. This is not a reason to assume that every family situation has the same result: the estate, personal status and evidence of heirs must be assessed in the proper procedure.
A court route from age 15
The updated rule also provides a route for a person who has reached 15 to apply to the court for permission to manage their own assets. Permission is not automatic: the court considers the application under the applicable procedural and personal-status rules. Families should obtain a specific assessment before relying on this provision in a transaction or estate plan.
What to include in a practical review
Make an inventory of UAE real estate, accounts, company interests, insurance and valuable personal property. Confirm how each asset is held, collect identity and family documents, and check whether a will has been registered through the appropriate court or authority. Keep copies accessible to the people who may need to begin the process.
Get advice for the actual estate
Inheritance is fact-specific: nationality, family relationships, asset location and the form of ownership can all matter. We can coordinate document preparation and a review with a licensed legal partner. The court and other competent authorities retain responsibility for interpretation, registration and final decisions.