Q: I would like to know what can I expect from inheritance laws in the UAE regarding a property. We have two sons and daughter we want the ownership to be transferred to children by inheritance. Should we prepare a will or other agreements before we will buy a property or we can do it afterwards? Will shares be the same for boys and girls in case we wouldn't have any documents in place in case of emergency? Thanks.

Q: I am a UAE citizen. My son passed away. I have no other children and I am divorced. I only have one granddaughter who is American/Canadian. I also have 2 brothers and 2 sisters and a mother. Under Islamic law, will she inherit me? If not, can I put a will in place for her to get my entire inheritance whilst still abiding with Islamic law? Thank you for your time!

Q: I have some savings in banks and national bonds in my name and gratuity with the company. I am working in a private sector company in Dubai since 2013. I have 2 minor kids and a wife in Dubai. Can anyone advise what is the best plan to safeguard them if anything happens to me? Thanks

Do you have assets in the UAE? Have you made a will yet? It is highly recommended to register a will soon, otherwise, the drive to asset disbursement can be extensive and expensive. In addition to the option of registering a will in DIFC for Non-Muslim will registration, Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) had also introduced a separate office since August 2017, which has made the entire will registration process easier and cost-effective.

An interview-format article covering reasons why a non-Muslim expatriate should have a will in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW. Ludmila sheds light in this article on the right time and place to start the procedure based on tested practices in the UAE.

UAE Personal Status Law (also known as Personal Affairs Law) governs marriage, divorce, inheritance and other personal affairs in the United Arab Emirates. The law equally applies to citizens of the UAE and non-citizens unless one of them asks for the application of his home country law.