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Heirship (inheritance) certificate in Dubai

An heirship certificate, also called an inheritance certificate, is issued by the Inheritance Court of Dubai Courts and confirms who the legal heirs of a deceased person are. We help heirs gather, attest, translate and organise the documents, and guide you while you submit the request online.

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Overview

What an heirship certificate does

When someone dies, banks, property registries, employers and other bodies usually need an official document naming the heirs before they release assets or transfer ownership. In Dubai, that document is the inheritance certificate issued by the Inheritance Court of Dubai Courts. It records the heirs the court has recognised and is often the first formal step in settling an estate.

The court relies on documents that prove the death and each family relationship. If those papers were issued outside the UAE, they normally need attestation and legal translation into Arabic before the court can use them, and this is where most of the time goes.

Which rules apply to an estate can depend on factors such as religion, nationality and whether the deceased left a registered will. Those are legal questions, and we suggest heirs discuss them with a licensed advocate. Our role is the paperwork: a complete, consistent file and clear help submitting it.

Who it's for

Who it's for

  • 01

    Heirs living in the UAE

    Spouses, children, parents or other relatives who need the certificate to deal with a deceased family member's assets in Dubai.

  • 02

    Heirs living abroad

    Family members outside the UAE who need to know which documents to attest and send, and how to give a power of attorney to someone here if needed.

  • 03

    Family representatives

    A relative or advocate acting for the heirs under a power of attorney who wants the file prepared in Arabic to a consistent standard.

Our part

What we do, and what we don't

Clear boundaries, so you know exactly what you're paying for and who decides each step.

Included

  • A document checklist built around your family's situation
  • Checking that names, dates and spellings match across every document
  • Arranging attestation of UAE and foreign certificates where needed
  • Legal translation into Arabic by Ministry of Justice (MOJ)-registered translators
  • Typing the request and any supporting statement in Arabic
  • Guiding you while you submit the request online from your Dubai Courts account

Not included

  • Advice on inheritance shares, wills or which law applies
  • Representing heirs at court sessions
  • Submitting the request from our account or in our name
  • Resolving disagreements between heirs
Documents

Documents heirs usually need

  • Death certificate of the deceased, attested if issued outside the UAE
  • Passport and Emirates ID copies of the deceased, where available
  • Passport and Emirates ID copies of each heir
  • Marriage certificate, to show the spouse's relationship
  • Birth certificates, to show each child's relationship
  • Family book, for UAE nationals
  • A copy of any will, and a power of attorney if one person acts for the others

The court may ask for further proof of family relationships, such as witness statements, depending on the case.

Fees and timing

Two fees, shown separately

  • Government fees, paid at cost

    Court fees for the certificate are set by Dubai Courts and paid at cost. Attestation and translation fees are listed separately, and we confirm every amount before you pay.

  • Global Sky PRO service fee

    Quoted in writing before we start, so you know the full cost up front.

  • Timing

    The longest stage is usually attesting and translating documents from abroad, which depends on the issuing country. Once the request is submitted, the court sets its own timetable and may ask for more information.

Process

How it works, step by step

Each step shows who does what, so you always know where things stand.

  • You
  • Global Sky PRO
  • Authority

  1. Step 1: Tell us about the family

    You

    Share who has passed away, who the surviving relatives are and where each certificate was issued. This tells us which documents need attestation or translation.

  2. Step 2: Prepare a document plan

    Global Sky PRO

    We list every document required, flag anything missing or inconsistent, and explain which attestation route applies to papers from abroad.

  3. Step 3: Attest, translate and type

    Global Sky PRO

    We arrange attestation where needed, send non-Arabic documents for legal translation and type the request in Arabic.

  4. Step 4: Review and submit online

    You

    You check the final file and submit the request through Dubai Courts' online services from your own account, with us guiding each step.

  5. Step 5: Inheritance Court decision

    Authority

    The Inheritance Court reviews the file, may ask for more information or a session, and issues the certificate if it is satisfied.

Good to know

Details that save time

Documents issued abroad

Certificates from another country cannot simply be scanned and uploaded. A foreign document is first attested by the foreign ministry of the country that issued it, then by the UAE embassy there, and finally by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). Only after that is it translated into Arabic for the court.

UAE-issued documents follow a shorter route: the issuing body first, then MOFA, and some birth and death certificates already carry digital MOFA attestation. We check each document so you only pay for the steps it actually needs.

Common reasons for delays

Small inconsistencies cause most of the back-and-forth with the court, so we compare every document before anything is translated.

  • Names spelt differently across passports and certificates
  • A missing marriage or birth certificate for one of the heirs
  • Foreign documents translated before attestation was complete
  • No power of attorney for the heir handling the file
FAQs

Heirship certificate: your questions

Short answers here. Your situation may differ, so ask us before you decide.

Still have a question?

An adviser replies during opening hours, Mon–Sat 10:00–21:00.

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Who issues an heirship certificate in Dubai?

The Inheritance Court of Dubai Courts issues inheritance certificates, often called heirship certificates. The court reviews the documents proving the death and the family relationships, then confirms who the legal heirs are. Global Sky PRO does not issue certificates; we prepare and translate the file and guide you while you submit the request yourself.

Which documents do heirs need?

Usually the death certificate, identity documents for the deceased and each heir, and proof of every relationship, such as marriage and birth certificates. Documents from outside the UAE need attestation and legal translation into Arabic. If one heir acts for the others, a power of attorney is needed, and the court may ask for further proof.

Can I apply for a heirship certificate online?

Yes. Dubai Courts accept inheritance requests through their smart services, so you can submit and track the request without visiting the court in person. You need a Dubai Courts account, which individuals create after registering with UAE PASS. We prepare the documents and guide you while you submit them from your account.

Do documents from abroad need attestation?

In most cases, yes. A certificate issued abroad normally needs attestation by its home foreign ministry, then the UAE embassy in that country, then the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, before legal translation into Arabic. The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille alone is not enough. We check each document's route first.

How do heirs transfer a Dubai property after getting the inheritance certificate?

Heirs apply to the Dubai Land Department (DLD) for real estate inheritance registration, using the inheritance certificate or declaration issued by the courts. DLD lists a registration fee of AED 1,000 per property, a title deed fee of AED 250 and other small charges, with a service time of 8 working hours at its service and trustee centres. A mortgaged property also needs a bank no-objection certificate, and documents from abroad must be attested and legally translated.

Source: Dubai Land Department: real estate inheritance registration

Can heirs settle an inheritance dispute amicably at Dubai Courts?

Yes, and in 2024 most matters were settled that way. Dubai Media Office reported that the Dubai Inheritance Court resolved 84% of inheritance and guardianship asset matters amicably, in an average of 24 days, and issued 1,407 inheritance certificates that year. A settlement needs the heirs to agree, so complete and consistent family documents help. How an estate should be divided is a legal question for the court and your advocate; we prepare and translate the paperwork.

Source: Dubai Media Office: Dubai Inheritance Court

How long does it take to get an heirship certificate in Dubai?

The time depends mostly on how quickly your documents are ready, and the Inheritance Court then works to its own timetable. Foreign certificates usually take longest, because each needs attestation abroad and by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) before translation. UAE-issued birth and death certificates can be quicker: MOFA says their digital attestation through the Ministry of Health and Prevention takes a few minutes once the health authority approves. We plan the file around the slowest document.

Source: UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs: attestation FAQs

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Global Sky PRO is not a law firm and does not give legal advice or court representation. We prepare, type and translate your documents and guide you through filing; for representation, please consult a licensed advocate. Last reviewed 31 October 2026 by the Global Sky PRO team.

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