05 Personal status and inheritance in the UAE

A brief overview by Real Law 

Who is this overview for

The following categories will particularly benefit from this overview:

• UAE residents, 
• UAE citizens,
• Lawyers, notaries and legal consultants,
• Financial and business advisors,
• Real estate agents.

Key regulation areas

In the UAE, the personal status laws primarily govern the legal aspects of an individual's personal life and family relationships. These include:

• marriage,
• divorce,
• parentage,
• child custody,
• inheritance. 

Regulatory Authorities

Various matters related to personal status, as well as the publication of the relevant legislation, are handled by specialised government authorities:

1. The Ministry of Justice - at the federal level;
2. Legal Departments of the local Governments - at the level of each Emirate;
3. General courts and personal status courts - at the level of each Emirate (for non-Muslims). Personal status issues related to Muslims are governed by local Shari'ah courts.

Legal Basis

Personal status in the UAE is applied to two categories: Muslims and non-Muslims. 

The ...