Wills for Dubai Property: DIFC Wills, Dubai Courts and How to Register One

Yes, a foreigner can make a will for property in Dubai, and if you own anything in the UAE you should. A registered will decides who inherits, names a guardian for your children, and lets your family deal with the property in weeks instead of months. Non-Muslim owners have three main places to register one. This guide compares them, explains the types of will and the costs, and sets out the steps.

Why a UAE will matters even though there is no inheritance tax

When someone dies in the UAE, the assets in their name are frozen until a court confirms the heirs. Without a registered will:

• the shares are fixed by law, not by you
• a joint owner does not automatically inherit the other’s share
• the court decides who looks after your children
• a will from your home country has to be translated, legalised and accepted by a UAE court before it can be used

See what happens to Dubai property when the owner dies.

Since 1 February 2023, Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 has given non-Muslims the freedom to leave their UAE assets to anyone they choose by will. If there is no will, the default is half to the spouse and half shared equally among the children.

Where you can register a will

	DIFC Courts Wills Service	Dubai Courts (notary)	Abu Dhabi Judicial Department
Who it is for	Non-Muslims aged 21 or over	Non-Muslims	Non-Muslims
Language	English	Arabic, or bilingual with legal translation	Bilingual, English and Arabic
Legal system	Common law, through the DIFC Courts	UAE civil courts	UAE civil courts
Need to live in the UAE?	No	No	No
Register remotely?	Yes, by video	In person or online	Yes, online
Typical registration fee	AED 5,000 to 15,000 depending on the type	About AED 2,200	About AED 950
Best for	Owners who want an English-language process and a clear probate route	A lower-cost option for a simple estate	The lowest fee, and useful for assets across the UAE

Fees are for registration only and are revised from time to time. A lawyer’s fee for drafting is separate.

The DIFC Courts Wills Service

This is the option most foreign property owners choose. It is a joint initiative of the Government of Dubai and the DIFC Courts, and it works under Dubai Law No. 15 of 2017 on the estates and wills of non-Muslims. Wills are written in English and enforced by the DIFC Courts, which apply common law.

Types of will and registration fees

Type	Covers	Single	Mirror (couple)
Full Will	All assets, and guardianship of children	AED 10,000	AED 15,000
Property Will	Up to five UAE properties	AED 7,500	AED 10,000
Financial Assets Will	Bank and investment accounts	AED 5,000	AED 7,500
Guardianship Will	Guardians for minor children	AED 5,000	AED 7,500
Business Owners Will	Shares in UAE companies	AED 5,000	AED 7,500

Check the current fee schedule on the Wills Service website before you book.

If you only own one apartment and have no children in the UAE, a Property Will is usually enough. If your family lives in the UAE, a Full Will that names guardians is the safer choice.

The office. The Wills Service Centre is in the Gate District of the Dubai International Financial Centre, next to the DIFC Courts. You do not have to go in person: wills can be registered by video call from anywhere in the world. Take the current address, phone number and booking link from the official DIFC Courts Wills Service website.

After death. The executor applies to the DIFC Courts for a grant of probate. The order is then recognised by the Dubai Courts and the Dubai Land Department, which transfers the property to the beneficiaries.

Dubai Courts and Abu Dhabi

Dubai Courts. A non-Muslim can have a will notarised and registered through the Dubai Courts. It costs much less than a DIFC will. The will has to be in Arabic or accompanied by a legal translation, and it is enforced through the ordinary Dubai civil courts.

Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD). Abu Dhabi’s civil family court registers wills for non-Muslims in English and Arabic, online, for the lowest fee of the three. It is intended to cover assets in any emirate, including property in Dubai.

What your will should say

• Who inherits each property, and in what shares.
• A substitute beneficiary in case the first one dies before you.
• An executor you trust, and a reserve executor.
• Guardians for children, both a permanent guardian and an interim guardian who lives in the UAE and can step in immediately.
• What happens to the mortgage and who is responsible for it.

If you own jointly, each owner needs their own will. Couples usually make mirror wills.

How to register: step by step

1. List your UAE assets: title deeds or Oqood certificates, bank accounts and company shares.
2. Choose the registry and the type of will.
3. Draft the will. You can use the registry’s template or a lawyer. Use a lawyer if you have a blended family, a business, or heirs in several countries.
4. Book the appointment and upload your passport, Emirates ID if you have one, and the draft.
5. Sign in front of the registry officer and your witnesses, in person or by video.
6. Keep the registered will safe and tell your executor where it is.
7. Update it after a marriage, divorce, birth, sale or new purchase.

How a UAE will fits with your home-country will

A UAE will should deal with your UAE assets only, and your home-country will with everything else. Make sure neither one accidentally cancels the other: a standard clause “revoking all previous wills” in a new will at home can revoke your UAE will. Tell both lawyers about the other document.

Muslims

These registries are for non-Muslims. For Muslims, inheritance follows Sharia rules under UAE personal status law, and a will can generally dispose of up to one third of the estate. See how Sharia law applies in the UAE and the inheritance law guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a non-resident make a will for Dubai property?

Yes. You do not need to live in the UAE, and DIFC wills can be registered by video.

How much does a DIFC will cost?

Registration costs AED 7,500 for a single Property Will and AED 10,000 for a single Full Will, with higher fees for mirror wills. Drafting by a lawyer is extra.

Is a DIFC will valid for property outside Dubai?

The service was set up for assets in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah and its scope has since widened. Check the current coverage for assets in other emirates, or use an Abu Dhabi will for them.

Is my home-country will enough?

It can be recognised by a UAE court, but only after translation, legalisation and a court process. A UAE will avoids that delay.

Do husband and wife need separate wills?

Yes. Each owner’s share passes under their own will. Mirror wills are the usual solution.

Can I leave my Dubai property to anyone I want?

If you are a non-Muslim with a registered will, yes.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Fees and procedures change, so confirm them with the registry and take advice from a UAE-licensed lawyer.