"Hi Anna,
I have tried to prepare as best I can for my husband's passing. He has stage 4 cancer. I would like to check if there's anything I have overlooked, if possible, please.
Thank you"
This email landed in my inbox this week, and it broke my heart.
Because when my husband was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, there was only one thing on my mind. Keeping him alive.
I wasn't thinking about wills. Or bank accounts. Or whose name was on the tenancy, or what would happen to my visa.. I was fighting for his life, and every part of me went into that fight.
Looking back, if someone with the information I have now had been there to guide me, my life today would probably be a lot easier.
So this is the checklist I wish someone had handed me. If you are living in the UAE and facing this, or supporting someone who is, these are the things that matter most. You don't need to do them all at once. Pick one or two, and come back to the rest when you can.
1. A registered will
This is the single most important step, and what happens without one depends on your faith.
If you are not Muslim: under Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 on Civil Personal Status, an estate without a will is divided half to the surviving spouse, with the other half shared equally among the children, regardless of gender. If there are no children, the estate goes to the surviving parents.
If you are Muslim, inheritance follows the Sharia fixed shares under Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2024 on Personal Status. A wife receives one-eighth of the estate where there are children or a quarter where there are none, with the rest divided among other heirs. A will can direct up to one-third of the estate within Sharia principles.
Either way, a registered will gives you clarity, and for families with children under 18, it is also where you can name a guardian. In the UAE, wills can be registered with the DIFC Courts, the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, or Dubai Courts. The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department can issue preliminary approval within one to two working days, so this is something that can still be done relatively quickly.
2. Money you can reach
When someone passes away in the UAE, bank accounts in their name are frozen. This includes joint accounts. The money is released once the court has dealt with the estate, which can take weeks or months.
If you can, make sure there is an account in your own name with enough to cover rent, school fees and day-to-day living costs for a few months. It is one of the kindest things you can do for your future self.
3. His employer
UAE labour law is very clear on this. Under Article 15 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, the employer must hand over the worker's outstanding wages and end-of-service gratuity to the family within 10 days of the death or of being informed of it. An employee can also name a family member in writing during their lifetime to receive these payments.
The employer also bears the full cost of preparing and transporting the body to the home country or place of residence, if the family requests it.
A quiet conversation with HR now, while you can, means this is ready when you need it.
4. Your visa
If your husband sponsors your residence, please know that the UAE has made real improvements here. Since September 2025, a widow can apply for her own residence permit within six months of her husband's passing and can sponsor her children as their custodians. You need to be in the UAE, and you will be asked to show that you can support yourself and have suitable housing. The permit can be extended for a similar period if there are valid reasons.
5. One folder of documents
Gather everything in one place, physical or digital:
Passports and Emirates IDs for the whole family
Your attested marriage certificate
The children's birth certificates
The tenancy contract and car registration
Insurance policies and bank details
The passwords to his phone, email and online banking
That last one matters more than people expect.
6. Everything in his name
Make a simple list of everything registered in his name: the tenancy, the car, utilities, his phone and any subscriptions. Each one will need transferring or closing. Property and vehicles go through the estate, so knowing what is on the list now saves a great deal of searching later.
7. His wishes
Where and how he would like to be laid to rest, and whether that involves repatriation. It is a painful conversation, but it is so much easier when everyone already knows.
What this checklist is really about
None of this takes anything away from the fight. It simply means that when the hardest day comes, you are not also fighting paperwork.
If you are facing something particularly difficult right now, whether you would like to speak to a grief counsellor or grief coach, have a consultation with a wills adviser, or talk to a financial adviser, I can refer you to the trusted advisers I partner with. All of them offer a free first consultation and will be happy to guide you through.
If you are going through this, or you know someone who is, please pass this on to them gently.
The Widow's Guide goes deeper into every step above, including a full 30, 90 and 180 day checklist, guardianship and keeping life steady for your children.
Join the HerSphere UAE Facebook group, where I share practical information for women rebuilding their lives here, and where you will find others who understand. Join HERSPHERE UAE FACEBOOK GROUP
Sources
Non-Muslim inheritance without a will, bank and joint account freeze, will registration options and timings: Chambers, Inheritance lawyer in Dubai: a practical guide for expats and residents
Muslim inheritance under Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2024, one third will limit: Chambers, Islamic inheritance law in the UAE
Employer dues within 10 days, written nominee, repatriation costs (Article 15, Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021): Gulf News, Death of a worker: what UAE employers must do within 10 days
Widow residence permit within six months (ICP, September 2025): Gulf News, New UAE visa changes explained
