What happens to my children and assets if I die in Dubai without a will?

Without a registered will, your UAE bank accounts are frozen on death and stay frozen until a court determines the heirs and distribution. Depending on the circumstances and what your heirs request, the court may apply UAE rules or your home-country law — but that is decided through a court process after your death. Guardianship is the sharper risk: where both parents are gone, a court decides who raises your children without any statement from you. The fix: register a will through the DIFC Wills Service Centre or the Dubai Courts covering both guardianship and your UAE assets, and consider a separate will for property at home. Full step-by-step guide: Non-Muslim wills in Dubai.