A will records how your assets, property, business interests and guardianship wishes should be handled after your death. Without a registered will, UAE bank accounts — including joint accounts — are frozen until a court order issues, and an estate commonly takes six to eighteen months to settle. We advise on the right route for your situation — a DIFC will in English, a notarised Dubai Courts will, or registration with Abu Dhabi's Judicial Department — then coordinate the drafting, documents, witnesses and registration appointment through to your certificate.
- DIFC single will
- 10,000
- DIFC mirror wills
- 15,000
- Dubai Courts will
- 2,167
- Abu Dhabi (ADJD)
- 950
Why registering a will matters
A properly prepared and registered will reduces uncertainty, protects your intentions and makes estate handling far smoother for the people you leave behind.
- Protect your family — clarify who receives what and reduce confusion for dependents
- Protect your wishes — set out clear intentions for assets, responsibilities and instructions
- Guardianship planning — record who should care for your minor children
- Asset distribution — property, bank accounts, shares, vehicles and business interests
- Reduce disputes — clear wording limits misunderstanding and conflict among heirs
- Formal legal record — registration is far stronger than an informal document at home
Types of wills we handle
Naming and format vary by registration route. We match the will type to your assets, family and budget.
- Full will — all UAE assets, guardianship and executors in one document
- Property will — UAE real estate, up to five properties under the DIFC property will
- Guardianship will — permanent and interim guardians for minor children
- Business / share will — company shareholdings and partnership interests
- Financial assets will — bank accounts and investments held in the UAE
- Mirror wills — two matching wills for spouses at a combined fee
Documents commonly required
Exact requirements depend on the will type, the registration authority and the complexity of your family or asset structure.
- Passport copy, plus Emirates ID for UAE residents
- Current contact and personal details
- Marriage certificate where relevant, or for mirror wills
- Beneficiary details — names, passport details and relationship
- Asset details — title deeds, account numbers, share certificates, vehicles
- Guardianship details for minor children, where applicable
- Two adult witnesses who are not beneficiaries
Frequently asked
Bank accounts — including joint ones — are frozen until a court order is issued, and distribution follows UAE statutory rules rather than your wishes. Settling an estate without a will commonly takes six to eighteen months. A registered will avoids most of this.
Not by default anymore. Since the 2023 civil personal status law, a non-Muslim estate without a will passes 50% to the surviving spouse and the rest equally between children. A registered will is still strongly recommended — it lets you decide the distribution yourself and appoint guardians.
AED 10,000 to register a single full will, or AED 15,000 for mirror wills covering both spouses, plus drafting fees. Later amendments cost AED 550.
Yes. A notarised Dubai Courts will costs around AED 2,167 (AED 4,334 for mirror wills) plus Arabic translation, and Abu Dhabi's ADJD registration is lower still at around AED 950. We help you choose based on where your assets sit and your budget.
DIFC wills are in English and, since Dubai Law No. 2 of 2025, their probate orders are directly enforceable with Dubai banks, the DLD and the RTA. Dubai Courts wills are far cheaper and work well for simpler estates but operate in Arabic. It usually comes down to estate complexity versus cost.
Yes — and it is one of the strongest reasons to register one. Without an appointed guardian, the court decides who cares for your minor children.
All UAE-sited assets — property, bank accounts, investments, vehicles, company shares and personal belongings. A will can also be drafted to cover worldwide assets, though enforcement abroad depends on each country's rules.
A drafted will, your passport (plus Emirates ID for residents) and two adult witnesses who are not beneficiaries. Registration is usually completed in a single appointment, with the certificate issued the same day.
Yes. Wills can be amended or rewritten at any time; at DIFC an amendment costs AED 550. Marriage, children or new property are the usual triggers to update.
Yes, but Sharia governs the estate: fixed shares apply to two-thirds, and you may freely will up to one-third to non-heirs such as charities or friends. We can guide you through registering a Sharia-compliant will.