What is the difference between a Sharia heir certificate and a non-Muslim will in the UAE?

They reflect different legal routes. A Sharia heir certificate is issued by the personal status (Sharia) court for a Muslim's estate and records the heirs and their fixed faraid shares; the bulk of a Muslim estate passes by those fixed shares, with only a limited bequest permitted by will. A non-Muslim will lets a non-Muslim resident direct how their UAE assets are distributed under the civil personal status framework, and registering it through the courts or a recognised wills registry helps local institutions act on it. Which path applies depends on the deceased's status — confirm what applies to your family before assuming an outcome. Full step-by-step guide: Non-Muslim wills vs Sharia succession. Compare verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI to plan for a mixed-status family.