DIFC Will for Non-Muslims in Dubai 2026 — Complete Guide to Registering Your Will
Why every non-Muslim expat in Dubai needs a DIFC Will. Covers what happens without one (Sharia inheritance), types of DIFC Wills, costs, the registration process, and what it covers. Updated May 2026.
Signed by: Sarah Al Qasimi (Lead Editor). Fact-checked by the full editorial team.
Why Non-Muslim Expats in Dubai Need a DIFC Will
Without a will registered under UAE or DIFC law, the distribution of your UAE assets after death is governed by UAE Sharia inheritance law — regardless of your religion, your own wishes, or whether you have a will in your home country. This applies to all UAE assets: property registered with the Dubai Land Department, UAE bank accounts, vehicles, and business interests held under UAE law.
Sharia inheritance law distributes assets according to fixed shares defined in Islamic jurisprudence. For a non-Muslim widow, this typically means receiving 1/8 to 1/4 of the total estate. Remaining shares go to children (sons receiving double daughters' shares), and in some circumstances to parents and siblings. A surviving spouse may find themselves locked out of the family home, bank accounts, and vehicles while the court adjudicates — a process that can take 6–24 months.
Sharia inheritance applies to your UAE assets regardless of your religion
This is the most critical planning issue facing non-Muslim expats in Dubai with significant UAE assets. A home country will does NOT override UAE Sharia law for UAE-based assets. A DIFC Will — registered in the DIFC Wills Service — is the legal instrument that replaces Sharia inheritance with your own distribution wishes under English Common Law principles for your UAE estate.
What Happens Without a DIFC Will
Outcome for UAE assets: with DIFC Will vs without
Types of DIFC Wills Available
DIFC Will types — what each covers and costs
The Combined Will (Full + Guardianship) is the most practical for expat parents
For most non-Muslim expat families in Dubai with children, the Combined Will covers all the critical bases in one instrument: your UAE asset distribution, guardianship of your children, and your funeral/repatriation wishes. DIFC Wills Service often offers couple discounts of 15–30% when both partners complete Wills simultaneously — this is typically the best value approach.
DIFC Will Registration — 6-Step Process
- 1
Initial consultation with DIFC Wills Service or an approved Will drafting lawyer
DIFC Wills Service (wills.difc.ae) offers free initial consultations. You can also use an approved DIFC Will practitioner — a UAE lawyer qualified under DIFC's approved practitioner programme. The consultation covers: which type(s) of Will you need (Full, Property, Guardianship, or Combined), your asset inventory (UAE property, bank accounts, vehicles, business interests), your intended beneficiaries, your executor choice, and any guardianship provisions for children. Simple estates can often be handled directly through DIFC Wills Service without a separate lawyer. - 2
Prepare your asset inventory and beneficiary list
Before drafting begins, prepare a clear list of your UAE assets: property (title deed numbers, DLD registration details), bank accounts (bank name, account numbers), vehicles (registration plate, VIN), business interests (trade licence numbers, percentage ownership), and other significant assets (investment accounts, jewellery, art). List your intended beneficiaries with full legal names and passport numbers. Decide on your executor (person who will administer the Will) — this can be a family member, trusted friend, or a professional executor service. Name a backup executor in case your primary choice is unable or unwilling to act. - 3
Will drafted (1–2 weeks)
DIFC Wills Service or your lawyer drafts the Will based on your instructions and asset inventory. DIFC Wills are written in English under DIFC law (English Common Law principles). Review the draft carefully — check all asset descriptions, beneficiary names, and distribution percentages. This is also where guardianship of minor children is specified (for Guardianship Will or Combined Will). You can include specific bequests (particular items to specific people), residual distribution (everything else to X person), and conditional provisions. - 4
Execute (sign) the Will at DIFC Wills Office — in person or via video
The Will is signed (executed) at the DIFC Wills Office in the DIFC area of Dubai. Both you and two witnesses must be present. Witnesses must be over 18, not beneficiaries under the Will, and of sound mind. Option for remote execution: DIFC Wills Service offers video execution for clients who are overseas or unable to attend in person. The video execution is conducted via a regulated video call with a DIFC official witnessing and verifying identities remotely. Bring or have ready: original passport, Emirates ID (for UAE residents), and all identification for your witnesses. - 5
Will registration at DIFC Courts Registry (1 week)
After execution (signing), the Will is submitted to the DIFC Courts Will Registry for registration. This formally enters the Will into the DIFC legal system. Registration typically takes approximately 1 week after execution. Once registered, you receive a Certificate of Registration — keep this in a safe place. The Will itself is stored securely in the DIFC Registry and can only be accessed by the executor upon your death (or in exceptional circumstances with your authorisation). - 6
Receive Certificate of Registration and store safely
Your Certificate of Registration confirms that your Will is formally registered in the DIFC Wills Registry. Store this certificate securely — give a copy to your executor and your next of kin. Inform your executor where the original is kept. The Will itself does not need to be stored separately by you — it is held in the DIFC Registry. However, keeping a copy at home or with your lawyer is advisable so your executor knows the contents before the probate process begins.
DIFC Will Costs
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Single Wills | |
Full Will (single person) Covers all UAE assets; complexity affects price | AED 5,000–10,000 |
Property Will (single person) UAE real estate only | AED 3,000–6,000 |
Guardianship Will (single person) Children's guardianship provisions only | AED 3,000–6,000 |
Financial Assets Will Bank accounts and investments only | AED 3,000–6,000 |
Combined Will (Full + Guardianship, single) All assets + guardianship in one document | AED 8,000–15,000 |
| Couple Package | |
Couple package — both partners, Combined Wills 15-30% couple discount typical; most popular package | AED 12,000–22,000 |
| Fees | |
DIFC Wills Registry registration fee Registration fee included in practitioner quotes typically | Included |
| Amendments | |
Will update / amendment (Codicil) Minor amendment without full re-draft; major changes require new Will | AED 1,000–3,000 |
Will re-filing after marriage or divorce New Will required after major life events; previous Will may be revoked | AED 3,000–8,000 |
| Optional | |
Professional executor service (optional) Annual fee or fixed fee; for complex estates without trusted local executor | AED 3,000–10,000 |
DIFC Will vs Home Country Will
DIFC Will (for UAE assets) — advantages
- Registered in UAE law — DIFC Courts have direct jurisdiction; no foreign court recognition required.
- English Common Law principles apply — straightforward for British, American, Australian, and other Common Law country nationals.
- Probate via DIFC Courts typically takes 30–60 days vs 6–24 months under Sharia-based Dubai Personal Status Court.
- Explicitly overrides Sharia inheritance for UAE assets — the key protection non-Muslim expats need.
- Guardianship Will provisions for children are legally binding under DIFC jurisdiction.
- Video execution option means you can maintain/update from overseas.
Relying on home country Will alone — risks
- Only covers UAE assets — you still need a separate will for your home country assets.
- Cost: AED 5,000–20,000 is not trivial — home country will is often cheaper.
- Marriage and divorce revoke a DIFC Will in certain circumstances — requires re-filing after major life events.
- Requires a UAE-resident executor or professional executor service for practical on-the-ground administration.
- Joint property (both names on title deed) passes automatically to surviving owner — DIFC Will cannot change this.
What DIFC Will Covers and What It Does Not
Understanding the scope of a DIFC Will prevents misunderstandings about what it protects. The DIFC Will is a powerful instrument but not a universal solution — there are specific categories of UAE assets and situations it handles differently.
What a DIFC Will covers
A DIFC Will covers: all UAE real property (apartments, villas, land — registered with Dubai Land Department); UAE bank accounts and savings; UAE investment portfolios and brokerage accounts; vehicles registered in the UAE; business interests under UAE law (sole proprietorships, partnership shares in some structures); personal property (jewellery, art, contents of property); and guardianship of minor children. It can also specify funeral and repatriation wishes.
What a DIFC Will does NOT cover
A DIFC Will does not cover: joint property that automatically passes to the surviving joint owner (this passes outside the Will automatically); foreign assets (your home country property, overseas bank accounts — these are governed by your home country will); UAE company shares in certain structure types (LLC ownership may be subject to UAE corporate succession rules — take separate advice); pension or insurance policy death benefits that have their own designated beneficiaries.
Marriage, Divorce, and DIFC Will Updates
Major life events can affect the validity of your DIFC Will. Understanding when your Will requires updating or re-filing is important — an outdated Will can create problems at probate.
- Marriage after making a DIFC Will: Under DIFC Wills law, marriage technically revokes a previous Will unless the Will was made in contemplation of that marriage. If you marry after registering your DIFC Will, re-file a new Will immediately that includes your spouse as a beneficiary.
- Divorce after making a DIFC Will: Divorce revokes provisions in your DIFC Will that benefit your former spouse. However, it is best practice to re-file a completely new Will after divorce to ensure the document reflects your current intentions clearly.
- Birth of a child: A new child is not automatically included in a previously filed Will. Update your Will to include the child as a beneficiary and to add or update guardianship provisions.
- Major asset acquisition or disposal: If you buy a new property, sell an existing one, or acquire significant new financial assets, update your Will to reflect the current asset position. The descriptions in a Will should match the assets you actually hold.
- Beneficiary predeceasing you: If a named beneficiary dies before you, their share under the Will does not automatically pass to their children — it may be distributed residually. Update your Will to address this scenario explicitly with alternate beneficiary designations.