Dubai court, Emaar sign deal to enhance protection of expat properties

DUBAI: The UAE’s first English-language common law court has signed a cooperation agreement with Emaar Properties to promote its wills service among the real estate giant’s buyers.

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts’ wills service, established in 2015, allows non-Muslims who are investing in the UAE to pass on their assets and appoint guardians for their children.

The agreement will encourage greater awareness for Emaar’s clients, “offering both investors and residents additional protection on real estate investments in the UAE,” the court said in a statement.

“The UAE is home to over eight million expatriates, many of whom have settled in the country and purchased a home for their family. In addition, the UAE has welcomed and enabled many foreign investors to make property investments,” Justice Omar Al-Mheiri, deputy chief justice at DIFC Courts said.

There is growing interest from foreigners in buying properties in the UAE, particularly in the luxury real estate market.

“This new alliance with one of the UAE’s flagship developers will ensure another layer of awareness for those choosing Dubai and the UAE as a destination for property ownership,” Al-Mheiri added.

The Dubai court has also launched an integrated online system for will registrations, allowing investors to complete the process remotely, especially useful during the pandemic.

“Remote registrations add an additional layer of digital access to the current Virtual Registry for Wills, which allows those living overseas to create and register a DIFC Courts Will,” it said in a statement.