Guides / Family & education / Death & inheritance

Wills and inheritance in Qatar for expats

Which law decides an expat's estate in Qatar, how to make and attest a will, naming guardians for your children, and how heirs unfreeze bank accounts, collect end-of-service dues and transfer property. General information, not legal advice.

Last reviewed: 13 October 2026

Which law: Generally the law of the deceased's nationality; Sharia shares for Muslims; non-Muslims follow their own rules
Will registry: No dedicated Qatar registry for non-Muslim wills that we could find; use a home-country will or a will notarised in Qatar
MOFA attestation: QAR 100 per will or inheritance certificate; death certificates exempt
Bank accounts: Usually frozen on death until the bank receives an attested heirs certificate or court order

If you live in Qatar but your assets, children or spouse are here, it is worth knowing what happens if you die. Under Qatari law an expat's inheritance is generally governed by the law of their nationality, Muslims' estates are divided using Islamic shares, and non-Muslims follow their own rules, but heirs must prove all of this with attested documents before banks or the Ministry of Justice release anything. The first half of this guide is for you, now: list your assets, make a will that works in Qatar, name guardians for your children and leave your family money they can reach. The second half is for families after a death: getting the document that names the heirs, claiming bank accounts, collecting what the employer owes and transferring property. This is general information, not legal advice; rules depend on your religion and nationality, so speak to a lawyer for your own situation.

Before you start

Your passport and Qatar ID (QID), and those of your spouse and children
Marriage certificate and children's birth certificates, attested if issued abroad
A list of assets in Qatar and abroad: banks and account types, deposits, property, cars, shares, insurance, pensions
A list of debts: loans, credit cards, mortgages, guarantees
Names and contact details of the guardians and executor you want to appoint
Your employment contract and the latest salary details, so heirs can check what is owed
Property title deeds or usufruct contracts, and the master developer's contact (Pearl, Lusail and others)
A lawyer who knows both Qatari law and your home-country law, for the will itself

Step by step

Understand which law decides your estate
Qatar's Civil Code (Law No. 22 of 2004, Articles 23 and 24) says inheritance is governed by the law of the deceased person's nationality, not by where they lived. The Family Law (Law No. 22 of 2006, Article 4) says the family matters of non-Muslims follow their own rules, while Qatari courts apply Islamic (Sharia) inheritance shares to Muslims. In practice, heirs often have to prove what their home-country law says, with attested and translated documents, and a court can refuse a foreign rule it sees as against Qatari public order. This is why a clear, properly attested will and good paperwork matter so much: they make it easier for a bank or court here to act. This guide is general information, not legal advice, so check your own case with a lawyer.
Read guide: Finding a lawyer and legal help in Qatar →
List what you own in Qatar and elsewhere
Write down every asset your family would need to find: bank accounts (and whether they are single or joint), fixed deposits, property, cars, shares, pension or savings plans, life insurance and money your employer will owe you. Note the bank, account type and branch, not just the name. Add your debts too, such as loans and credit cards, because these are paid from the estate before anyone inherits. Keep the list updated once a year and tell one trusted person where it is. Families often lose months simply finding out what existed.
Read guide: Open a bank account in Qatar →
Decide where and how to make your will
Many expats make a will in their home country that covers assets worldwide, or a separate will just for Qatar assets; a lawyer can tell you which works best for your nationality. As far as we can find, Qatar has no dedicated wills registry for non-Muslims like Dubai's DIFC Wills Service Centre, so be wary of anyone selling a 'Qatar registered will' and ask exactly which office records it. A will made in Qatar can be authenticated by the Ministry of Justice notarisation (Tawtheeq) department or an authorised notary, and a lawyer can draft it in Arabic and English. If you are Muslim, Qatari law limits gifts by will to one third of the estate for people who are not heirs, and gifts to heirs only take effect if the other adult heirs agree after death. Review your will after marriage, divorce, a new child or a move.
Read guide: Finding a lawyer and legal help in Qatar →
Name guardians for your children and an executor
If both parents die, young children in Qatar may be placed in temporary state care while authorities find relatives who can prove their link to them. A will can name a temporary guardian who lives in Qatar and a permanent guardian, usually back home, plus an executor to handle the estate. For Muslims, Qatari law gives guardianship of a child's money and affairs first to the father and then to the paternal grandfather, so a will cannot simply override these rules. For non-Muslims, the named guardian is strong evidence of your wishes, but a court or authority still makes the final decision. Tell the guardians in advance and keep their contact details with your will.
Get a will made abroad attested for use in Qatar
A foreign will, grant of probate or succession certificate is only accepted in Qatar after a chain of legalisation: the issuing authority or notary, your country's foreign ministry, the Qatar embassy or consulate in that country, and finally the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in Doha. Qatar is not part of the Apostille Convention, so an apostille alone is not enough. Documents not in Arabic need a translation, done by a Qatar-approved translator here or attested along with the original if done abroad. MOFA charges QAR 100 to attest a will or inheritance certificate, and death certificates are exempt. Doing this while you are alive saves your family time later.
Read guide: Making a power of attorney in Qatar →
Make life easier for your family now
Keep copies of your will, passports, QIDs, marriage and birth certificates, property deeds and the asset list in one place your spouse can reach. Make sure your spouse has some money of their own: banks usually freeze a deceased person's accounts as soon as they hear of the death, and that can last months. Joint accounts help but are not a full answer, because the bank may block the deceased's share. Check who is named as beneficiary on any life insurance or pension plan. If your spouse and children are on your family sponsorship, read the sponsorship transfer guide so they know their options.
Read guide: Transferring a family member's sponsorship in Qatar →
After a death: certificates first
The first tasks are the death notification and certificate, burial or repatriation, and the embassy; these are covered step by step in our guide for when a family member dies. Ask for several copies of the death certificate, because banks, the employer, the court and home-country authorities will each want one. Tell the deceased's bank and employer promptly. Do not move money out of the deceased's accounts using their cards or online banking, even if you know the PIN, as this can cause legal trouble and delay the estate.
Read guide: When a family member dies in Qatar: certificates, repatriation and next steps →
Get the document that names the heirs
Banks, employers and the Ministry of Justice will release assets only against an official document naming the heirs and their shares. For Muslims, the Family Court under the Supreme Judicial Council issues a legal heirs certificate (hasr al-waratha); for Qatari estates, Law No. 4 of 2023 asks heirs to apply within 30 days of the death, and the Council offers an online heirs determination service. Non-Muslim heirs usually get a succession certificate, grant of probate or court order from the home country, attested as in step 5, or ask a Qatari court to apply their national law. If there is a will, the bank will normally want a court document that allows the will to be carried out or appoints an executor.
Claim bank accounts
Once the bank has the attested heirs certificate or court order, it pays out according to that document; heirs often give one person a power of attorney to deal with the bank for everyone. Surviving holders of a joint account must tell the bank within 10 days whether they want to keep or close it, and withdrawals above the deceased's share are blocked until a legal successor is appointed (Commercial Code, Article 351). Fixed deposits normally run to maturity unless the heirs ask to break them early. Loans and credit card balances are set off against the balance first. Ask each bank for its own written checklist, because procedures differ.
Read guide: Open a bank account in Qatar →
Collect what the employer owes
A death ends the employment contract, and the employer must pay the heirs what was owed: unpaid salary, unused leave and the end-of-service gratuity for the time worked. If the death was caused by a work injury, the Labour Law (Article 110) entitles the heirs to compensation, which the employer deposits with the court within 15 days of the death so the court can divide it among the heirs. The employer also normally bears the cost of repatriating the body. Ask HR for a written settlement statement and check it with our end-of-service calculator; if the employer refuses to pay, the family can file a labour complaint.
Read guide: End-of-service gratuity in Qatar: how it is worked out and how to claim it →
Transfer property in Qatar to the heirs
Freehold property and long-term usufruct rights held by a non-Qatari pass to the heirs rather than ending at death. The heirs present the attested death certificate and the heirs certificate or the court-approved will to the Ministry of Justice Real Estate Registration Department, which records the property in their names; in areas such as The Pearl or Lusail they must also record the change with the master developer. Heirs pay the registration fees, and any mortgage must be settled or taken over with the bank's agreement. If heirs who live abroad cannot attend, one can act for the others under an attested power of attorney.
Read guide: Buying freehold property in Qatar as an expat: step by step →

What it costs

MOFA attestation of a will (certification of will)	QAR 100
MOFA attestation of an inheritance (heirs) certificate	QAR 100
MOFA attestation of a death certificate	Free (exempt)
Lawyer, will drafting, translation and home-country attestation	Varies; ask for a written quote

Official fees at the time of review. Fees change, so confirm before paying.

Common mistakes

Assuming you have no estate to worry about: bank balances, gratuity and a car are enough to freeze your family's money
Relying on a home-country will without getting it attested, or using an apostille alone, which Qatar does not accept
Paying for a so-called 'Qatar registered will' without checking which official body actually records it
Leaving all the family's money in one person's sole-name account
Withdrawing money from a deceased person's account with their card or app after the death
Not naming guardians for children, so they may go into temporary state care while relatives prove who they are
Forgetting that loans and credit cards are paid from the estate before heirs receive anything
Muslims trying to leave everything to one heir by will without the other heirs' consent

Questions people ask

I am not a Muslim. Will Sharia law apply to my estate in Qatar?

Qatar's Civil Code says inheritance follows the law of the deceased's nationality, and the Family Law says non-Muslims' family matters follow their own rules. In practice, though, heirs must prove what their national law says with attested and translated documents, and without that a court may fall back on Qatari rules. A clear, attested will and home-country succession documents are the best protection; ask a lawyer how this works for your nationality.

Is my will from back home valid in Qatar?

A will made abroad can be used in Qatar, but only after it is legalised in your home country, attested by the Qatar embassy there and then by MOFA in Doha, and translated into Arabic. Banks usually also want a court document, such as a grant of probate, before they act on it. Check that the will covers assets outside your home country, as some wills only deal with local property.

Is there a wills registry in Qatar like the DIFC one in Dubai?

We could not find a dedicated public registry for non-Muslim wills in Qatar as of October 2026. A will can be authenticated by the Ministry of Justice notarisation department, and many expats rely on a home-country will instead. If someone offers a 'registered' Qatar will, ask which official body records it and how heirs would use it.

My husband died and the bank froze his account and our joint account. How do I get money?

Banks freeze a deceased person's accounts until they receive an attested heirs certificate or court order. For a joint account, tell the bank within 10 days whether you want to keep it; you can normally still use your own share, but the deceased's share stays blocked. Ask the bank for its written checklist, and ask the employer about any salary or settlement it can pay to the family.

Who looks after our children if both of us die in Qatar?

Children may be placed in temporary state care until relatives prove their relationship and arrangements are approved. A will naming a temporary guardian in Qatar and a permanent guardian helps the authorities follow your wishes, although they make the final decision. For Muslim families, guardianship rules in Qatari law, starting with the father and then the paternal grandfather, also apply.

Does the employer pay the end-of-service gratuity to the family?

Yes. The contract ends on death and the employer must pay the heirs the unpaid salary, leave pay and gratuity earned. If the death was caused by a work injury, the employer must also deposit the legal compensation with the court within 15 days. The employer usually pays to the heirs named in the heirs certificate, so get that document early.

As a Muslim, can I leave everything to my wife by will?

Under Qatari family law a will in favour of an heir, such as a wife, only takes effect if the other adult heirs agree after your death, and gifts to non-heirs are limited to one third of the estate. The rest is divided by fixed Islamic shares. Some families use joint ownership or other planning instead; get advice from a lawyer.

Does our freehold apartment pass to our children automatically?

Freehold and usufruct rights do pass to the heirs, but not automatically. The heirs must take the death certificate and the heirs certificate or court-approved will to the Ministry of Justice to register the property in their names, and also record it with the master developer in areas such as The Pearl or Lusail. Any mortgage has to be dealt with too.

Official sources

Always check the official source before acting. QatarSteps is independent and not a government website.

Wills and inheritance in Qatar for expats

Before you start

Step by step

Understand which law decides your estate

List what you own in Qatar and elsewhere

Decide where and how to make your will

Name guardians for your children and an executor

Get a will made abroad attested for use in Qatar

Make life easier for your family now

After a death: certificates first

Get the document that names the heirs

Claim bank accounts

Collect what the employer owes

Transfer property in Qatar to the heirs

What it costs

Common mistakes

Questions people ask

Official sources

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