How is property inherited in the UAE after the owner dies?

Real estate in the UAE does not transfer to heirs automatically on death; it must be re-registered in the heirs' names through the relevant land department after the heirs are legally established. The first step is usually obtaining a legal heir certificate from the competent court, which lists the heirs and, for a Muslim estate, their faraid shares. With that ruling, the heirs apply to the land authority (for example the Dubai Land Department or the equivalent in other emirates) to transfer title in line with the certificate. For a Muslim deceased, the property is apportioned according to Sharia shares; for a non-Muslim, distribution may follow a registered will or the civil personal status framework. The deceased's debts may also need to be addressed before or during the transfer. Because procedures, document requirements, and any registration charges are set by each emirate's land authority and court and can change, confirm the current steps with them directly. Verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI can manage the court ruling and the title transfer for you.