Gulf families seek fairer inheritance through UK law

Wealthy families in the Gulf are increasingly preparing wills under British law to reduce the difference

Wealthy families in the Gulf are increasingly preparing wills under British law to reduce the difference between the inheritance shares traditionally allocated to sons and daughters under Islamic law.

According to a report in a Western publication, some experts have described the emerging trend as “Shariah Lite”, referring to families using the flexibility offered by English succession law to distribute their wealth among their children on relatively equal terms.

British lawyers say families are increasingly exploring these legal arrangements to protect the financial future of their children, particularly in cases where they have only daughters or where daughters outnumber sons.

Under traditional Islamic inheritance rules, the shares received by male and female heirs can differ depending on the family structure and circumstances. The growing use of foreign legal frameworks allows wealthy families with international assets to consider alternative succession arrangements within the limits of applicable laws.

Experts say several factors are contributing to the trend, including changing attitudes among younger generations, increasingly complex marital arrangements and political uncertainty across parts of the Gulf region.

These developments have encouraged affluent families to pay greater attention to estate planning, asset protection and succession arrangements to ensure that their wealth remains within the family and is transferred according to their wishes.

Gulf states are also introducing legal systems that offer foreign residents and some families alternatives to traditional Sharia-based procedures. Abu Dhabi, for example, has established a separate civil legal framework for matters including divorce, providing an alternative route outside the traditional Sharia system.

The growing interest in British wills highlights the changing approach of some wealthy Gulf families toward inheritance and succession planning, as they seek greater control over how their assets are distributed among future generations.