For most adults, one of life’s inevitable questions is: Is it necessary to make a will?
It’s a perfectly legitimate question, which I must admit, I always welcome being asked as it opens interesting discussions on family protection and life administration.
When it comes to drafting a will, many people hesitate — thinking they’re not ready, they don’t have enough assets, or that in today’s hyperconnected world, a will simply isn’t necessary.
There may be misconceptions that a will is only for the wealthy or the elderly. I’ve also been told by others that they see discussions about what happens to us after we’re gone as a little too morbid. Then, there are others who seem to have an “it will all sort itself out” mindset, where they think things will just fall into place.
In 2022, CNBC reported that two-thirds of adults in the US have no will. The report highlighted the serious implications for grieving family members and the uncertainty that not having a will can bring.
Among the many possible issues in a web of complications that can arise without a will is disputes between family members. This can happen on the basis that without clear instructions, family members could disagree over what the deceased would have wanted. This could spiral into lengthy legal battles as well as broken relationships.
There are also the practical considerations, as there’s no denying that when you try to settle an estate without a will, the probate will usually take longer and may involve higher legal fees.
The benefit of a will cannot be understated. When life changes without warning, a will is a way to set clear, enforceable instructions for your financial affairs. It prevents delays in administration, and most importantly, family disputes.
A will also removes uncertainty over who cares for the children by establishing guardianship wishes. In short, it protects your loved ones from legal complications and ensures peace of mind in difficult times.
Legal delays, frozen assets and unresolved guardianship are challenging enough —but without a will, these problems are magnified when families are spread across borders rather than rooted in one country.
Today, many individuals and families have assets spread across borders, own businesses or properties in different jurisdictions, and are raising children in countries they did not originally call home. With this global lifestyle comes a growing need for clarity and protection. And this is especially relevant for people living in the UAE, considering how large our expatriate population is today.
And if you’re wondering where to begin, I would strongly advise that you start with a few simple questions. Do you own property in the UAE? Do you hold local bank or brokerage accounts? Do you run a business here? Do you have children who would need interim and permanent guardians if something happened to you? Do you hold digital assets such as cryptocurrency that would be hard for loved ones to access without clear instructions?
With the answers to these questions in sharper focus, you can quickly establish what type of will may be suited to your needs – it could be a full will covering all assets and guardianship provisions. Or those more specifically suited to financial assets or business ownership. The point being, whatever is outlined in the will, the important thing is that you have taken a necessary step to make life easier for the people you love and care for.
When someone who has registered a will passes away, the administrator can issue the probate orders required to carry out the instructions in the will. Clear, transparent procedures reduce uncertainty for families and executors, and they reinforce trust that the system will work as intended when it matters most.
The average person makes countless choices every day to protect their careers, their family and their future. Yet one decision can safeguard it all – and this peace of mind is surely worth it.
Amna Al Owais is deputy director of the DIFC Courts
The five pillars of IslamThe five pillars of IslamUAE currency: the story behind the money in your pocketsResults
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Killing of Qassem SuleimaniUAE players with central contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Adnan Mufti, Mohammed Usman, Ghulam Shabbir, Ahmed Raza, Qadeer Ahmed, Amir Hayat, Mohammed Naveed and Imran Haider.
Zayed Sustainability PrizeMatch info
Manchester United 4
(Pogba 5′, 33′, Rashford 45′, Lukaku 72′)
Bournemouth 1
(Ake 45 2′)
Red card: Eric Bailly (Manchester United)
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANIMore from Neighbourhood WatchKILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANIMATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
The%C2%A0specs%20
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Mohammed bin Zayed MajlisWHAT FANS WILL LOVE ABOUT RUSSIA
FANS WILL LOVE
Uber is ridiculously cheap and, as Diego Saez discovered, mush safer. A 45-minute taxi from Pulova airport to Saint Petersburg’s Nevsky Prospect can cost as little as 500 roubles (Dh30).
FANS WILL LOATHE
Uber policy in Russia is that they can start the fare as soon as they arrive at the pick-up point — and oftentimes they start it even before arriving, or worse never arrive yet charge you anyway.
FANS WILL LOVE
It’s amazing how active Russians are on social media and your accounts will surge should you post while in the country. Throw in a few Cyrillic hashtags and watch your account numbers rocket.
FANS WILL LOATHE
With cold soups, bland dumplings and dried fish, Russian cuisine is not to everybody’s tastebuds. Fortunately, there are plenty Georgian restaurants to choose from, which are both excellent and economical.
FANS WILL LOVE
The World Cup will take place during St Petersburg’s White Nights Festival, which means perpetual daylight in a city that genuinely never sleeps. (Think toddlers walking the streets with their grandmothers at 4am.)
FANS WILL LOATHE
The walk from Krestovsky Ostrov metro station to Saint Petersburg Arena on a rainy day makes you wonder why some of the $1.7 billion was not spent on a weather-protected walkway.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pocketsThe specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pocketsThe years Ramadan fell in MayKilling of Qassem Suleimani
What is Genes in Space?
Genes in Space is an annual competition first launched by the UAE Space Agency, The National and Boeing in 2015.
It challenges school pupils to design experiments to be conducted in space and it aims to encourage future talent for the UAE’s fledgling space industry. It is the first of its kind in the UAE and, as well as encouraging talent, it also aims to raise interest and awareness among the general population about space exploration.
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group B
Barcelona v Tottenham Hotspur, midnight
Company%20Profile
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Zayed Sustainability PrizeMIDWAY
Produced: Lionsgate Films, Shanghai Ryui Entertainment, Street Light Entertainment
Directed: Roland Emmerich
Cast: Ed Skrein, Woody Harrelson, Dennis Quaid, Aaron Eckhart, Luke Evans, Nick Jonas, Mandy Moore, Darren Criss
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Start times
5.55am: Wheelchair Marathon Elites
6am: Marathon Elites
7am: Marathon Masses
9am: 10Km Road Race
11am: 4Km Fun Run
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
BRAZIL SQUAD
Alisson (Liverpool), Daniel Fuzato (Roma), Ederson (Man City); Alex Sandro (Juventus), Danilo (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Emerson (Real Betis), Felipe (Atletico Madrid), Marquinhos (PSG), Renan Lodi (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Silva (PSG); Arthur (Barcelona), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Fabinho (Liverpool), Lucas Paqueta (AC Milan), Philippe Coutinho (Bayern Munich); David Neres (Ajax), Gabriel Jesus (Man City), Richarlison (Everton), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Willian (Chelsea).
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pocketsThe five pillars of IslamHow being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
More on animal traffickingWhat are the influencer academy modules?
Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
Cinematography, shots and movement.
All aspects of post-production.
Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
Tourism industry knowledge.
Professional ethics.
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
UAE v Ireland
1st ODI, UAE win by 6 wickets
2nd ODI, January 12
3rd ODI, January 14
4th ODI, January 16
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
Visibility: Often dramatic with thick “walls” of sand
Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
Travel distance: Limited
Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
Duration: Can linger for days
Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Zayed Sustainability PrizeMore on Quran memorisation:Killing of Qassem SuleimaniKilling of Qassem Suleimani
Film: Raid
Dir: Rajkumar Gupta
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Ileana D’cruz and Saurabh Shukla
Verdict: Three stars
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