Registration of property ownership for heirs
Registers ownership of an inherited property in the names of the heirs with the Dubai Land Department.
How it works
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Documents
You
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Reviewed by MARIO E.G.S.H AI
MARIO E.G.S.H AI
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Registered at trustee office
Runner at DLD
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Title deed issued
DLD
Documents required
Legal Notification of Inheritance (Ilam Shari) issued by a UAE court
originalOfficial letter from Dubai Courts, another UAE court or the Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation to DLD requesting the transfer to the heirs
originalEmirates ID copies of all heirs (citizens and residents)
copyValid passport copies of non-resident heirs
in some casescopyOnly if: For heirs who do not live in the UAE.NOC from the mortgagee bank (mortgaged property) or from the developer (property under an initial sale contract)
in some casesoriginalOnly if: Only if the property is mortgaged or still off-plan.
Conditions, time and validity
- The inheritance certificate and court letter come from Dubai Courts (or other UAE courts / Awqaf); DLD registers what the court decides.
- For non-Muslims, Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 on Civil Personal Status (in force since 1 February 2023) applies by default unless there is a registered will (secondary sources); Muslims' estates follow the UAE personal status law.
- Processing time
- DLD step: 8 working hours after submission. The court stage (inheritance certificate, court letter) usually takes much longer.
- Validity of the result
- Permanent: electronic title deed and map in the heirs' names, in the shares set by the court.
- Where it is applied for
- DLD service centres / Real Estate Services Trustee centres or the DLD main building. Partner: Dubai Courts.
Steps at the authority
- Heirs obtain the inheritance certificate (Ilam Shari) and the letter to DLD from Dubai Courts.
- Centre collects heirs' IDs/passports and any bank or developer NOC, and submits at the trustee centre or DLD main building.
- Fees are paid; the transaction is audited and approved.
- Heirs receive the new title deeds by email.
Tips that save you a trip
- A foreign inheritance certificate (e.g. Iranian 'گواهی انحصار وراثت') is generally not enough on its own; the case usually goes through Dubai Courts first. Ask our staff before collecting documents.
- If the heirs plan to sell, DLD also has a 'Sale procedure (heirs)' service; minors' shares involve the Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation.
Common reasons for rejection or delay
- No UAE court inheritance certificate or court letter to DLD.
- Missing ID or passport of one of the heirs.
- Mortgaged or off-plan property without the bank's or developer's NOC.
Questions and answers
Do all heirs have to come to Dubai?
DLD asks for copies of the heirs' Emirates IDs or passports; heirs abroad can act through a power of attorney that is notarised and attested (see the POA topic). Court steps may have their own attendance rules.
Checked by the MARIO E.G.S.H team on 2026-10-08. Rules can change at any time; our consultant confirms the details for your case.
Legal basis
Dubai Law No. 7 of 2006 on Real Property Registration; Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 on Civil Personal Status (non-Muslims); UAE Personal Status Law (Muslims)
Related services
Data update
Updates your registered data in the Dubai Land Department's records, at the centre or online.
To whom it may concern letter
Obtains a to-whom-it-may-concern letter about your property from the Dubai Land Department.
Property details certificate
Obtains an official certificate of your property's registered details from the Dubai Land Department.
Land map (affection plan)
Obtains the land map (affection plan) showing your plot details from the Dubai Land Department.