📋 Complete Guide | Wills in Dubai
Legal Consultant
Will drafting in Dubai means preparing a document that sets out how your assets and property are distributed after your death, who carries out the will and who looks after your minor children. For non-Muslims, the will is registered with the DIFC Courts Wills Service or notarised before a notary public at Dubai Courts. This guide explains the steps, documents, official fees and the reasons a registration cannot proceed, based on official sources updated to October 2026.
The information in this article is general and educational. It is not legal advice and does not create a client–lawyer relationship. Requirements may vary by case and by the competent body, and acceptance of the final document rests with the body to which it is submitted.
Why is will drafting in Dubai important?
A will is a legal instrument that records a person’s wishes about their money and property and names the beneficiaries and the people who carry it out. The DIFC Courts explain that, without a registered will, transferring assets to loved ones after death is time-consuming and legally complex.
Will drafting in Dubai helps in five ways:
- Organising the estate: it states how property and assets are distributed.
- Protecting beneficiaries: each beneficiary’s rights are clear.
- Appointing the executor: it names who carries out the will, with a substitute executor if you wish.
- Reducing disputes: it limits possible disagreements between beneficiaries.
- Easing procedures: it simplifies the estate steps after death.
A will is also different from a power of attorney: a power of attorney lets an agent act during the principal’s lifetime, while a will governs what happens after death. See general and special power of attorney and our power of attorney services in the UAE.
Who needs a will in Dubai?
Anyone with assets or interests they want to organise can benefit, and the need grows with family and financial circumstances. Those who most often need one include:
- Residents of the UAE: to organise assets and set out how they are divided.
- Property owners: to name who benefits from real estate and how ownership passes.
- Business owners: to organise the transfer of shares and business interests.
- Parents: to set out wishes for minor children and their care.
- Holders of assets inside or outside the UAE: to decide how each asset is handled.
The DIFC does not require UAE residency or a UAE visa. The testator must be a non-Muslim who has never been a Muslim, be at least 18 years old, and own assets in the UAE and/or have minor children residing there.
What information must a will contain?
- Testator details: name, ID number and passport.
- Beneficiaries: the people who benefit, with identifying details.
- Assets: the property, money and assets covered by the will.
- Distribution shares: the share the testator assigns to each beneficiary.
- Executor: who follows up on carrying out the will and related procedures.
- Guardian of minor children: the guardian appointed under the applicable requirements.
- Special instructions: any other wishes the testator wants to record.
The DIFC rules set minimum content for a will, and a will that does not meet it cannot be registered. You can name substitute beneficiaries and a substitute executor. A beneficiary can be an individual, a company or a charity (its licence or registration number is provided), but an animal cannot be named.
Where can a will be registered in Dubai?
Dubai Law No. 15 of 2017 regulates inheritance, wills and probate for non-Muslims. The routes available to them in Dubai include the following.
The DIFC Courts Wills Service
This is a joint initiative of the Government of Dubai and the DIFC Courts, and wills are registered electronically through its portal. The service registers five types of will, and its fee schedule adds a sixth for digital assets:
- Full Will: covers movable and immovable property and can appoint guardians for minors residing in Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah.
- Guardianship Will: appoints guardians for minor children only.
- Property Will: up to five real estate properties in the UAE.
- Business Owners Will: up to five shareholdings in UAE companies.
- Financial Assets Will: up to ten bank or brokerage accounts held at UAE branches.
- Digital Assets Will: listed in the DIFC Courts fee schedule.
The notary public at Dubai Courts
The Dubai notary fee schedule includes an item for notarising wills made by non-Muslims. Dubai Courts set the application requirements and documents, so check them with the body before filing. A private notary’s fees are set by a resolution of the Director of the Dubai Courts in coordination with the Department of Finance.
Wills for Muslims, non-Muslims and foreigners
The DIFC service is limited to people who are not Muslim and have never been Muslim. Where the testator is a non-Muslim with a Muslim spouse, the Courts state that registering a DIFC will is not advisable for someone who is a Muslim and recommend taking advice suited to your situation. For Muslims, the Courts recommend consulting a legal professional familiar with UAE law.
A will for foreigners in the UAE does not require residency: a non-resident who owns assets in the country can register remotely. A Full Will may include assets outside the UAE, but enforcing it there depends on the laws and rules of that country and is not guaranteed.
Will drafting in Dubai: steps to register with the DIFC
The following steps run electronically through the Wills Service portal and can be completed from anywhere in the world:
For the Dubai Courts notary route, the body itself sets the application steps and documents, and the official sources cited here do not list them; check the Dubai Courts service page before filing.
Documents required to register a will at the DIFC
Documents are uploaded as electronic copies through the portal, and what is required depends on the type of will:
- All types: a copy of the testator’s valid passport, the Emirates ID if applicable, and a copy of each witness’s passport.
- Property Will: the title deed or Oqood certificate for each property.
- Business Owners Will: share certificates or another proof of ownership.
- Guardianship Will or Full Will with guardianship: signed guardianship statements from all interim and permanent guardians (the parents do not sign).
- Company or charity beneficiary: its licence or registration number.
- Optional: a letter of wishes, a list of assets, passport copies of executors and beneficiaries.
At the appointment, the testator and witnesses must hold a passport, Emirates ID or other government photo ID matching what was uploaded at booking. A basic grasp of English is required, and a Ministry of Justice licensed translator appointed by the testator may attend. The Courts’ FAQ states that signing by power of attorney is not accepted, so a documents needed for power of attorney notarization does not replace the testator attending in person. If the receiving body asks for attested or translated documents, see notarisation and attestation requirements and our personal legal services.
Official fees updated to October 2026
The fees below are updated to October 2026 according to the DIFC Courts and Dubai Executive Council Resolution No. (72) of 2025, and may change — please verify the official source.
| Body | Transaction | Fee (AED) | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIFC Courts | Full Will: single / mirror (spouses) | 10,000 / 15,000 | DIFC Courts fee schedule |
| DIFC Courts | Property Will: single / mirror | 7,500 / 10,000 | DIFC Courts fee schedule |
| DIFC Courts | Guardianship Will: single / mirror | 5,000 / 7,500 | DIFC Courts fee schedule |
| DIFC Courts | Business Owners Will: single / mirror | 5,000 / 7,500 | DIFC Courts fee schedule |
| DIFC Courts | Financial Assets Will: single / mirror | 5,000 / 7,500 | DIFC Courts fee schedule |
| DIFC Courts | Digital Assets Will: single / mirror | 5,000 / 7,500 | DIFC Courts fee schedule |
| DIFC Courts | Modification of any will (a new will) | 550 | DIFC Courts fee schedule |
| DIFC Courts | Withdrawal of a will | 0 | DIFC Courts fee schedule |
| Notary public, Dubai | Notarising a will made by a non-Muslim | 2,000 | Executive Council Resolution No. (72) of 2025 |
| Notary public, Dubai | Entering transaction data electronically (per party) | 100 | Executive Council Resolution No. (72) of 2025 |
DIFC fees are administrative, are paid in UAE dirhams and are exempt from VAT. A booking fee is deducted from the service fee and varies by type of will (AED 1,000 for a single Full Will); it is non-refundable if the appointment is cancelled, rescheduled more than three times, or moved to a date more than 90 days after the previous one. The fees of a legal professional who prepares the draft are separate from these charges and are set by the provider, so the table does not include them, or translation costs.
Customary timing
The DIFC Wills Service puts the registration appointment, in person or online, at about 20 minutes. If you pay offline you have 3 days to pay and confirm the appointment, and you can reschedule up to 3 times without extra fees. For notarisation of a will before a notary public, the official sources cited here publish no specific duration, so we state none.
Timing can lengthen if a mandatory document is missing, a witness is ineligible, the draft does not meet the minimum registration requirements, or a signed guardianship statement is absent. These are customary observations, not a promise of delivery by a set time.
Reasons a will registration may not proceed
The following reasons rest on the published DIFC requirements:
- A draft below the minimum requirements: a will that does not meet the rules cannot be registered; avoid this with the official form of will or the online template.
- A draft prepared by someone not registered as a Wills Draftsman: the service does not accept wills from unregistered practitioners; check the service register.
- A testator who is or was a Muslim: this is a registration condition; confirm eligibility before starting.
- Ineligible witnesses: under 18, a beneficiary or guardian or the spouse of one, or without valid ID matching what was uploaded; choose two eligible witnesses, and beneficiaries and guardians should not attend the signing.
- A missing mandatory document: such as a guardianship statement, title deed or share certificate; check the document list for your type of will.
The role of the legal professional and the notary
The DIFC Wills Service is a government body that does not give legal advice or prepare a will on your behalf. You may prepare the will yourself, use the online template, or take help from a practitioner registered with it, and it does not accept wills from unregistered practitioners. A legal professional advises, drafts and reviews the terms, while registration or notarisation gives the document its official status before the DIFC or the notary public.
Common mistakes in will drafting in Dubai
- Copying a generic template: online templates do not allow special clauses, and an older will drafted under another regime must be redrafted to fall under the DIFC rules.
- Overlooking digital assets: there is a type of will for them, so do not leave them unorganised.
- No substitute executor: you can name a substitute executor and substitute beneficiaries.
- Conflicting clauses: contradictory terms make the will hard to interpret and carry out.
- Leaving out guardianship for minors: guardians can be appointed only in a Full Will or a Guardianship Will, not in a Property, Business Owners or Financial Assets Will.
- Not registering: preparing a will without completing registration or notarisation with the competent body.
When should a will be updated?
- Marriage: a registered will is revoked by marriage unless the intention to marry is clearly stated in it.
- Divorce: gifts and appointments to the former spouse are treated as if that spouse had died on the date of the divorce.
- Birth of a child, or death of a beneficiary or executor: to add the child or change beneficiaries and executors.
- Buying property or founding a company: a Full Will covers what you own at death, while Property, Business Owners and Financial Assets wills cover only what they list at registration and need modification.
- Changes in laws or assets: to confirm the will still fits current law and current assets.
Changes are made by signing a new will at a new appointment, and the DIFC modification fee is AED 550 per will.
Need help with your will procedures?
Instant POA assists with preparing the information for the draft, the required documents and coordinating submission, electronically for clients who cannot attend, with document collection and delivery available.
Important notes
- Registration or notarisation is carried out by the competent body (the DIFC Courts or the notary public); our help is limited to preparation and coordination.
- Requirements and fees may change, and acceptance of the final document rests with the competent body.
- If the will covers assets outside the UAE, take legal advice in that country.
FAQ about will drafting in Dubai
What does will drafting in Dubai mean?
It means preparing a legal document that states how your assets are distributed after death, who executes the will and who looks after minor children. The will is then registered or notarised by the competent body, such as the DIFC Courts Wills Service or a notary public at Dubai Courts, depending on your case.
Is registering a will compulsory in Dubai?
Requirements differ by type of will, the testator’s situation and the competent body. The DIFC Courts note that transferring assets after death without a registered will is time-consuming and legally complex, so confirm the rules that apply to your case before you decide.
Where can a will be registered in Dubai?
For non-Muslims, a will can be registered electronically with the DIFC Courts Wills Service or notarised before a notary public at Dubai Courts. The DIFC service requires a testator who is not and never was a Muslim and who owns UAE assets or has minor children residing in the UAE.
Can a non-resident foreigner register a will?
Yes. The DIFC service requires neither UAE residency nor a UAE visa. The testator must be a non-Muslim aged at least 18 who owns UAE assets or has minor children residing in the UAE. Registration can be completed by video call from anywhere, with two eligible witnesses attending.
Can a will cover assets outside the UAE?
A DIFC Courts Full Will may include assets outside the UAE, but the Courts state that carrying it out there depends on the laws and rules of the country where the assets are located. Enforcement is not guaranteed, so take legal advice in that country before relying on the will.
What documents are needed to register a will?
You upload a copy of your valid passport, your Emirates ID if applicable, and a copy of each witness’s passport. Depending on the type of will, you add title deeds or Oqood certificates, share certificates or signed guardianship statements. Other bodies may ask for different documents.
Conclusion: will drafting in Dubai, step by step
Will drafting in Dubai depends on the type of will, the testator’s situation and the competent body: register with the DIFC Wills Service or notarise before the notary public, and check the official fees and documents before you start. Next step: decide which type of will fits your assets, then contact us on WhatsApp to prepare the information and documents.
Official sources
- DIFC Courts — Wills FAQ: eligibility, types of will, documents, appointment and modification.
- DIFC Courts — Fees (Article IX: Ancillary services): Wills Service fees.
- DIFC Courts — Wills Service: the service and Dubai Law No. 15 of 2017.
- Dubai Legislation Portal — Executive Council Resolution No. (72) of 2025 Amending Resolution No. (4) of 2014 on Notaries Public fees and fines: fees for notarising non-Muslim wills.
Firas is an expert in notary public procedures in the UAE. He writes specialized content aimed at explaining and simplifying legal processes in a clear and practical way, helping individuals and companies understand their transaction requirements and take the right steps with confidence. Through his articles, he focuses on combining accuracy, educational value, and an emphasis on fast and reliable solutions.
