Who is considered a legal heir under Islamic inheritance law in the UAE?

Under Sharia (faraid), legal heirs are specific relatives entitled to a share of the estate, and which of them inherit depends on who survives the deceased. Common fixed-share or residuary heirs include the spouse, the deceased's children, the parents, and, in certain situations, siblings and other relatives such as grandparents or grandchildren. Some heirs always inherit when present, while others only inherit if closer heirs are absent, following an order of priority set by Islamic law. Heirs inherit only after the deceased's debts and any valid bequests are settled. In the UAE, the personal status (Sharia) court verifies the family relationships, applies these rules, and issues a ruling naming each qualifying heir and their share, which becomes the legal heir certificate. Because eligibility and shares turn on the exact surviving family, the definitive list for your case is determined by the court. You can compare verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI to confirm who qualifies and to file the application.