UAE Decree Clarifies Handling of Expat Assets With No Heirs

A new federal decree under the UAE’s Civil Transactions Law clarifies how the assets of expatriates will be treated if they pass away without a will or identifiable heirs.

Financial assets located in the UAE and belonging to a foreign national who dies without leaving heirs will be designated as a charitable endowment (waqf). An authority will be responsible for managing these assets to ensure they are handled transparently and allocated in the public interest.

The decree is intended to provide legal certainty and a clear framework for situations that previously lacked explicit guidance. Officials described the measure as part of broader updates to the civil law aimed at modernising the country’s legal system and strengthening governance practices.