11-06-2024, 11:57 AM
The inheritance laws in Sharjah, like the rest of the UAE, are primarily governed by Islamic Sharia law. However, there have been recent changes that impact inheritance for non-Muslims and those who wish to deviate from Sharia law.
For Muslims:
For Muslims:
- Sharia Law: Islamic Sharia law determines the distribution of inheritance among heirs, including spouses, children, parents, and siblings.
- Fixed Shares: Specific shares are allocated to different heirs, such as a quarter share for the spouse and two-thirds for sons and one-third for daughters.
- Law of Nationality: If a non-Muslim dies intestate (without a will), their inheritance will be distributed according to the laws of their country of nationality.
- Wills: Non-Muslims can create wills to specify how their assets should be distributed, providing flexibility in inheritance planning.
- Federal Decree-Law No. 30/2020: This law introduced significant changes to inheritance laws, allowing individuals to choose the law that governs their inheritance, either Sharia law or the law of their nationality.
- Federal Decree-Law No. 41/2022: This law further clarified inheritance rules for non-Muslims, providing more options for inheritance planning.