Tag Archives: expat wills

Need to know: UK Property Taxes

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This article is designed to be a brief guide to the taxes that apply to UK property, all in one place.  This is written specifically for the benefit of non-residents of the UK.

I have covered this topic before but tax rules change regularly and it is important that we keep up to date. This article is corect as at April 2026.

You may not be living in the UK, or be “UK resident for tax purposes” but that does not mean you do not have a liability to certain UK taxes.

There are various taxes that apply with in relation to the ownership of UK property and an overview of each of the main ones is set out below.

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There is now another important reason why you need a UAE will

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A change in UAE law affects expats who hold bank accounts, property, or other assets in the UAE.

I have written about the many reasons why you need a Will in the past (see 15 reasons here) but this is something new.

If you pass away without a registered Will, your assets are now classified as “unassigned.”

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A real life sad story. What if it happens to you?

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I am currently helping out someone in a tragic situation. Gemma (not her real name) is having to deal with a legal and financial nightmare.

Her husband died in an accident a couple of months ago, leaving her with two young children.

Apparently, they had said in passing that they needed to get their family finances sorted, to get wills and some life insurance, but they never got around to it.

Now she has to deal with the mess left behind and needs to support herself and two children on one income.

It is going to be hard.

But it didn’t need to be this way.

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UK Spring Statement March 2025 – a summary for GCC residents

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This was not a Budget according to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, but rather a forecast statement so we were not expecting much in the way of announcements.

It was information about the financial balance sheet of the UK.

Following every Budget or Statement, I write an article to give you a concise overview of some of the main points, with particular reference to any changes that have particular relevance to those living outside of the UK, and especially in the GCC.

The British press will cover many points in detail but much of it will not be directly relevant to those of us who do not live in the UK so this article focuses on the issues that will be of most interest to us.

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Living in the UAE. 10 major money mistakes you want to avoid

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Moving to the UAE is a big change. Living in the UAE, or even the wider GCC, is not quite like life elsewhere.

It is not uncommon for expats for make a few financial mistakes but proper planning, some research, and the right advice will make for a better experience, and a better life generally.

This article has a list of the most common errors and while some may seem obvious, they are all made regularly. Knowledge is power so have a read and make sure you aren’t making mistakes that you could easily avoid.

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15 reasons why you need a will

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Arranging suitable wills is an important part of financial planning and one that is too often overlooked or not addressed as it seems complicated – but can be much easier to organise than you might think.

Wills are important and if you don’t have one this is something you need to address.

Here are 15 reasons why you need a will:

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UAE wills for Muslim expats – now available

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The times, they are a-changing, to quote Bob Dylan, and that is the case in the UAE as Muslim expats can now write UAE wills and distribute their assets exactly as they wish, in the same way as non-Muslims.

This is a huge change, and very welcome for many residents, especially those who have bought property in the UAE. Provided a will is set up correctly, and formally registered, assets will no longer be subject to distribution according to Sharia Law.

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Where there’s a will, there’s a way to protect your family

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I have published articles on this topic before but in light of the changes to the personal status laws in the UAE in 2020, this has been updated to cover the new rules. This also includes the minor amendments for 2022 and a change for Muslim expats in 2023.

If you have assets, and more importantly, if you have children, then you need a Will. This is a subject that many people are reluctant to address but there are many misconceptions and an all too common reluctance to talk about the relevant issues. In this article I want to set out a few facts and answer the most common questions.

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New personal laws in the UAE but what do they really mean for you?

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I am sure most people have seen the articles about some significant legislative changes in the UAE with changes to the penal code and personal status laws and these are very positive in all respects. In this article, I want to explain what this actually means in relation to the financial issues, as headlines are not always quite what they seem and there are subjects that still need to be considered and addressed by expats, especially in terms of the distribution of assets in death.

Let’s address the various points in turn.

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Where there’s a Will there’s a way to protect your family

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Due to changes in legislation, this article has been updated and rewritten to so please see the latest one.

Where there’s a will, there’s a way to protect your family

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