Many expats in Dubai put off making a will while they focus on homes, jobs and schools. Yet deciding what should happen to your UAE assets, and to your children, if you die is one of the most important pieces of paperwork you will arrange here. A registered will records those wishes in a recognised way. This article is general information only, not legal advice, and explains the main options so you can take proper advice with more confidence.
Why a Will Matters in the UAE
Without a will, how your estate is distributed and who cares for your children may not follow what you would have chosen, or the rules in your home country. That uncertainty can add stress for family at a difficult time and slow practical matters such as accessing bank accounts, dealing with property or transferring a vehicle.
A will lets you name who should inherit your UAE assets, who should act as executor, and who you nominate as guardian for minor children living here. For parents, guardianship alone is a strong reason not to delay. Naming long-term guardians, and where allowed, temporary guardians nearby, helps ensure children are cared for by people you trust.
- Property, bank accounts and investments in the UAE
- Vehicles, personal possessions and business interests
- Guardianship wishes for children living in Dubai
- Executors you trust to carry out your wishes
The DIFC Wills Service
The best-known route for non-Muslim expats is the DIFC Wills Service, run in connection with the DIFC Courts. It lets non-Muslims register a will in English under a common-law style framework, with probate handled through the DIFC Courts. Many expats choose it because the process is in English and the service is familiar to banks and law firms in Dubai.
Eligibility rules, including age requirements, can change. In general, it is aimed at non-Muslim adults with assets in the UAE or children living here. Most people use a registered will draftsman or law firm to prepare the document, then register it at an appointment with the service. Registration gives the will its formal standing; an unregistered draft kept at home is not the same.
The service has offered different will types, from a full will covering assets and guardianship to specific wills for property, financial assets, business interests or guardianship alone. Names and availability can change, so check the current options on the official DIFC Wills Service website.
The Dubai Courts Option
Another route is registering a will through Dubai Courts. This may be considered by Muslim residents, who are generally subject to different rules, and by some expats depending on personal status, nationality and circumstances. Procedures and language requirements differ from the DIFC route, and documents may need to be in Arabic or officially translated.
Personal status law in the UAE has developed in recent years, including provisions affecting non-Muslims, so the right route depends on individual factors. Do not rely on friends or social media groups. A UAE lawyer specialising in wills and estates can clarify which system applies to you.
Costs and Keeping It Current
Costs vary by will type, whether you register alone or as a couple with mirror wills, and the drafting firm’s fees. Registration and drafting fees are separate, and both can change. Treat figures in older articles or forums as approximate only. Check current fees on the official DIFC Wills Service website and ask any firm for a written quote first.
The usual steps are to take advice, choose beneficiaries, executors and guardians, have the will drafted and checked, then sign and register it through the correct channel. Tell your executor and family where the registered will is held.
Review it after marriage, divorce, a child’s birth, buying property or starting a business. A will from your first year in Dubai may not fit your life five years later. Regular reviews with legal advice keep your wishes clear, protect the people you care about most, and make sure your paperwork still reflects where your assets and your family actually are today.