UAE Wills for Expats: What the DIFC Wills Service Covers

Who can register a DIFC will?

The DIFC Wills Service is for non-Muslims who are investing in or living in the UAE. A testator must be at least 18, must never have been Muslim, and must own assets in the UAE and/or have minor children living with them in the UAE. UAE residency or a visa is not required, and registration can be completed virtually from anywhere.

What the service covers

• Full Will — covers the testator's UAE assets generally.
• Property Will — for a specific UAE real estate asset, such as an apartment or villa.
• Financial Assets Will — for bank accounts, shares and similar financial holdings.
• Business Owners Will — for shares or ownership interests in a UAE company.
• Digital Assets Will — for digital property such as online accounts or digital currency.
• Guardianship Will — appoints a guardian for minor children living with the testator in the UAE.

How registration works

1. Choose how to prepare it. Draft the will personally, use a registered Wills Draftsman, or complete an online template. Property, Business Owners and Financial Assets Wills must use the official template.
2. Gather the documents. A valid passport (and Emirates ID, where applicable) for the testator; valid photo ID for two witnesses aged 18 or over; plus will-specific documents such as title deeds for a Property Will or share certificates for a Business Owners Will.
3. Book the registration appointment. Registration is completed by electronic signature, either online by video call or in person. No hard copies are retained — the electronic version is the original. The appointment generally takes about 20 minutes.
4. Bring two independent witnesses. Witnesses must be 18 or older and cannot be beneficiaries, guardians, or their spouses.
5. Pay the applicable fee. Registration fees are set out in the DIFC Wills Service fee schedule and are paid directly to the service; a Grant of Probate carries a separate fee.

Does this cover assets outside Dubai?

Since 1 July 2019, the DIFC Wills Service has covered assets across all the Emirates, not only Dubai, as well as assets the testator holds outside the UAE. Non-Muslim expats also have other registration routes, including the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, the Dubai Courts Notary Public, the Ministry of Justice, and the ADGM Courts. The right route depends on where the assets are and the testator's circumstances.

Common questions

What happens if a non-Muslim expat dies without a registered will?

By default, the law of the local courts in the Emirate where the UAE assets are located applies. Under the Personal Status Law for Non-Muslims, a testator can otherwise choose to leave UAE assets to people of their choice, or elect their home country's law to apply, so the outcome depends on whether a will exists and what it specifies.

Do I need UAE residency to register a DIFC will?

No. The DIFC Wills Service does not require UAE residency or a visa, and a testator can complete registration virtually from outside the UAE, provided they own UAE assets or have minor children living with them in the UAE.

Can a DIFC will cover property in another country?

A DIFC will can address movable and immovable property the testator owns worldwide, though it does not by itself govern succession under another country's own laws. Check how UAE and overseas assets interact with a qualified adviser in each relevant jurisdiction.

Disclaimer: This article provides general legal information for awareness and is not legal advice on a particular matter. Laws, procedures and outcomes depend on the facts, jurisdiction and applicable legal framework. It does not create a lawyer client relationship. Please verify the current official source and seek appropriately scoped advice before acting.