Six reasons why you need a UAE will

A hectic pace of life means UAE expats often put off taking care of their affairs as long as possible – but they really (really) shouldn’t.

As a UAE expat life can move pretty fast. With each day filled with career boosting, growing a business, or raising your family – as well as fitting in the kind of social life that could do with a personal assistant – who’s got time for serious admin?

That’s why unfortunately so many people put off writing a will. Not to mention the fact that, well, no-one wants to think about their demise when they’re having the time of their life. There’s another major reason people delay – they think it’s something ‘old’ people do.

According to a recent poll by LawPRO, the most common reason respondents cite is they believe they’re too young. Often people believe they don’t need a will until they are in their 60s or 70s and well into retirement. Sadly, that could be too late.

“Getting a will written up is an essential part of estate planning and living in the UAE as an expat,” explains Jazmine Stevenson, Real Estate, Probate and Family Partner at leading will writing firm Kashwani Law.

“Your will can be as straightforward or complex as you’d like it to be. It will contain your instructions for who you want to care for your young children or elderly parents, as well as how you want your inheritance to be distributed after you pass away. This makes the process of settling your estate for your loved ones much simpler and less stressful.”

Many people don’t grab the negative implications of not having a UAE will, which can lead to complications in asset distribution and even lengthy, expensive court cases.

Here are six top reasons why the experts advise drawing up a will asap.

Asset distribution — Without a UAE will, your assets, bank accounts, and properties can be frozen for over two years according to local laws. A will allows you to specify how any property should be distributed on your death, ensuring your wishes are respected.

Guardianship of minors — If you’re a property owner with young children a will means you can designate guardianship for your children if the worst happens.

Cultural and religious considerations — The UAE follows Shariah (Islamic) law, which governs the distribution of assets in the absence of a will. Creating a will means expats know their property will be distributed according to their personal wishes, regardless of Shariah law requirements.

Streamlined probate process — Having a will can speed up and simplify the probate process for the beneficiaries. It helps provide clarity on asset distribution, reducing the chances of disputes and challenges among family members.

International considerations — For expats who have assets and beneficiaries in different countries, having a will can help with cross border estate planning and ensure a smooth transfer of property across jurisdictions.

Peace of mind — Lastly, but just as importantly, creating a will gives you peace of mind. Knowing your property will be distributed as per your wishes and that loved ones will be taken care of is priceless.

Want to get a will but not sure where to start? We have partnered with Kashwani Law to offer preferred rates to our clients for international estate planning and will drafting – just mention haus & haus when reaching out to get favourable pricing.

If you’re interested, drop an email to jbernard@kashwanilaw.com or call +971 50 134 3606.