UAE Expats Aged 35–44 Turn to Estate Planning as Property Ownership Grows
Growing home ownership, expanding family responsibilities and rising personal wealth are encouraging younger expatriate residents in the UAE to consider wills and succession planning earlier.
Estate planning is increasingly becoming part of long-term financial planning for expatriate families in the UAE, with residents in their 30s and 40s showing stronger interest in preparing wills.
According to a recent consumer trends report from Just Wills Legal Consultants, people aged 35 to 44 recorded the fastest growth in enquiries over the past year. Residents aged 45 to 54 remain the largest group seeking advice, but the increase among younger residents points to a changing approach to estate planning.
The consultancy said it receives approximately 100 to 150 individual enquiries each month, with around 30 to 40 per cent subsequently completing a will. Completed wills have increased by 20 per cent compared with the previous 12-month period.
The figures indicate that some UAE residents are considering succession planning earlier as they establish homes, families and financial assets in the country.
Property Ownership Is Driving Earlier Estate Planning
Buying property is one of the major milestones encouraging residents to think about how their assets would be handled in the future.
The report found that approximately 60 per cent of the consultancy's clients own property in the UAE, while a similar proportion have children. Around half of those surveyed identified guardianship as an important reason for preparing a will.
For expatriate homeowners, a UAE property can represent one of the largest assets accumulated during their time in the country. As families acquire homes, investment properties and other financial assets, succession planning can become an increasingly relevant part of their long-term financial arrangements.
Legal professionals cited in the report said major changes in family and financial circumstances can prompt residents to review their estate plans. These include purchasing a home, having children, getting married, establishing a business and accumulating significant assets.
Younger Families Are Building Larger Financial Footprints
The growing interest among residents aged 35 to 44 comes as many expatriates establish increasingly substantial financial interests in the UAE.
Property is only one component. Families may also have savings, investments, business interests, insurance policies and other assets, while maintaining financial connections to their countries of origin.
For families with children, estate planning can also extend beyond inheritance. Guardianship and the future management of assets intended for children can become important considerations.
This makes estate planning relevant to families at different stages of their lives rather than being limited to older residents.
Overseas Assets Can Complicate Succession Planning
Expatriate families with assets in several countries may face additional considerations when arranging their estates.
A UAE resident could own a home in the country while also holding property, bank accounts, investments or business interests overseas. In some cases, beneficiaries may also live outside the UAE.
Legal advisers quoted in the report warned that residents should not automatically assume that a will created in their home country will deal with all UAE-based assets. The appropriate legal arrangements can depend on the type and ownership of the assets, the individual's circumstances and the laws applicable to them.
Families using estate documents in multiple jurisdictions may also need to ensure that the arrangements are coordinated and do not create unintended conflicts.
Business Ownership Adds to Succession Concerns
The issue extends beyond residential property to families with businesses and other commercial interests.
For entrepreneurs and shareholders, deciding who should receive an ownership interest is only one part of succession planning. Families may also need to consider management responsibilities and how the business will continue operating following the death of an owner.
Potential arrangements can involve shareholder agreements, ownership-transfer provisions, management structures and provisions relating to company debts or shareholder loans.
For families that rely on a privately owned company for income, business continuity can also affect everyday financial commitments, including housing, education and debt payments.
Shariah Considerations Remain Important for Muslim Families
For Muslim families, estate and succession planning can involve additional considerations relating to Shariah principles.
Advisers quoted in the report said families with substantial wealth or business interests may also consider liquidity and wealth-transfer arrangements when planning for succession. Shariah-compliant financial solutions, including Takaful, may form part of such planning depending on individual circumstances.
The growing focus reflects a broader approach to family wealth management, where property, business interests and other assets are considered together rather than separately.
UAE Property Wealth Is Changing How Families Plan Ahead
The growing number of younger residents considering wills highlights the changing financial profile of expatriate families in the UAE.
For many residents, purchasing a home can mark a significant transition from renting to building long-term wealth in the country. When combined with children, business ownership, investments and other assets, that transition can also raise questions about succession.
The trend does not mean every UAE resident in the 35–44 age group is preparing a will. Rather, the reported increase in enquiries suggests that younger expatriates are becoming more engaged with estate planning as their financial and family commitments grow.
As UAE residents build longer-term connections to the country through property ownership and wealth creation, succession planning is increasingly being considered alongside other major financial decisions.
Residents considering wills or inheritance arrangements should seek advice from an appropriately qualified legal professional, as the applicable rules can vary according to individual circumstances, asset ownership, family structure and the jurisdictions involved.
END.
