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

The two 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, which the court calculates from the surviving family; the bulk of a Muslim estate is distributed by these fixed shares, with only a limited bequest permitted by will. A non-Muslim will, by contrast, lets a non-Muslim resident direct how their UAE assets are distributed under the civil personal status framework, and registering it through the relevant courts or a recognised wills registry helps ensure local institutions act on it. In short, a Muslim estate is primarily governed by faraid through a court ruling, while a non-Muslim can shape outcomes through a registered will. Which path applies depends on the deceased's status, and the rules and registration options are set by UAE courts and the applicable laws. Confirm what applies to your family before assuming an outcome. You can compare verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI to plan correctly for a mixed-status family.