Difc will.
Without a registered will, assets held in the UAE by a non-Muslim expatriate may be distributed under Sharia principles of succession, and accounts can be frozen while the position is resolved. For a family with property, company shares and bank balances here, that means months during which nobody can access anything. A DIFC will overrides the default and applies testamentary freedom instead — you decide who inherits what.
What it covers
Property in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah. Shares in UAE companies. Bank accounts and financial assets. Vehicles and personal property. Guardianship of minor children — often the most important clause and the one people overlook.
How it works
Draft the will, register it with the DIFC Wills Service, both spouses register separately where assets are held individually. Registration is done in person or by video link. A guardianship-only will is available at lower cost for families whose main concern is the children.
What people get wrong
A home-country will does not automatically cover UAE assets, and the UAE courts are not obliged to apply it without a lengthy process. Two separate documents, one for each jurisdiction, is the normal answer.
What I do
- Audit what you hold and in whose name it is actually titled
- Establish what needs to change and in what order
- Coordinate drafting and registration through lawyers
- Arrange family access to funds in the first weeks
- Keep the arrangement current as circumstances change
From AED 30,000
DIFC Wills Service registration fees and legal drafting are separate and paid directly by the client.
Common questions
Why do I need a DIFC will in the UAE?
Without a registered will, assets held in the UAE by a non-Muslim expatriate may be distributed under Sharia principles of succession, and accounts can be frozen while the position is resolved.
What does it cover?
Property in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah. Shares in UAE companies. Bank accounts and financial assets. Vehicles and personal property. Guardianship of minor children — often the most important clause and the one people overlook.
How does the process work?
Draft the will, register it with the DIFC Wills Service, both spouses register separately where assets are held individually. Registration is done in person or by video link. A guardianship-only will is available at lower cost for families whose main concern is the children.
What do people get wrong?
A home-country will does not automatically cover UAE assets, and the UAE courts are not obliged to apply it without a lengthy process. Two separate documents, one for each jurisdiction, is the normal answer.
How much does it cost?
Coordination from AED 30,000. Registration fees at the DIFC Wills Service and legal drafting are separate and paid directly. A guardianship-only will costs less than a full will.
How long does it take?
Six to twelve weeks for a complete arrangement including drafting, review and registration. A guardianship-only will can be done considerably faster.
Reviewed by Denis Chernikov, Private Client Advisor, nine years in the UAE private client sector.
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Two or three sentences on the substance. I respond within one business day.