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Home Blog UAE Wills for Expats 2026: Registration, Costs & Inheritance

Wills for Expats in the UAE in 2026: Registration, Inheritance, Guardianship and Costs

Aug 25, 2026
32 min
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Gulnora Djamalova
Aug 25, 2026 07:38
Wills for Expats in the UAE in 2026: Registration, Inheritance, Guardianship and Costs

Wills for expats in the UAE in 2026: registration, inheritance, guardianship and costs

A UAE will can be an important part of estate planning for expatriates who own property, bank accounts, company shares or other assets in the Emirates. But there is no single universal “UAE will” procedure. The available route depends on factors such as religion, age, emirate, the assets to be covered and whether the testator uses the DIFC Courts Wills Service, the Abu Dhabi Civil Wills Office or another competent court framework. This guide explains the main options in 2026, what happens without a registered will, how guardianship works, current registration costs and the documents to prepare.

Last reviewed: 25 August 2026. The article was checked against Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 on Civil Personal Status and its Executive Regulations, the current DIFC Courts Wills Service rules, FAQ and fee schedule, and current Abu Dhabi Judicial Department guidance on Civil Wills and inheritance.

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Key points

  • There is no single UAE-wide will-registration route. DIFC Courts Wills, Abu Dhabi Civil Wills and the federal civil personal-status framework have different eligibility and procedural rules.
  • For non-Muslims, it is no longer accurate to describe intestacy simply as automatic Sharia distribution. Federal civil personal-status legislation provides a separate default inheritance framework, while other laws or the deceased’s home-country law can be relevant depending on the case.
  • A registered will is still important because the statutory default distribution may not match the testator’s wishes, especially where there are company shares, several properties, children from different relationships or specific beneficiaries.
  • DIFC Courts Wills are available to eligible non-Muslims aged at least 18 who own UAE assets and/or have qualifying minor children. UAE residency is not required.
  • The Abu Dhabi Civil Wills Office currently states that a non-UAE citizen may register a Civil Will regardless of religion; its current published regular registration fee is AED 950.
  • The federal civil-will regulations for persons subject to Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 use a different eligibility framework and require, among other things, a testator of full capacity who is at least 21.
  • DIFC offers several will types, including Full, Property, Business Owners, Financial Assets, Digital Assets and Guardianship Wills. Choosing the correct type matters because asset-specific wills only cover the assets listed.
  • Guardianship should be reviewed separately from asset distribution. DIFC guardianship provisions have their own eligibility and territorial conditions for the children.
  • A DIFC Full Will can be modified later. The current DIFC fee schedule lists a modification fee, so the old statement that a registered will can never be amended and must simply be cancelled is too broad.
  • Assets outside the UAE can raise cross-border enforcement issues. A UAE-registered will should not be assumed to replace estate planning in every foreign jurisdiction.

In this guide

  • Why expats consider a UAE will
  • What happens if an expat dies without a registered will?
  • The main UAE will-registration routes
  • DIFC Courts Wills
  • Abu Dhabi Civil Wills
  • Federal civil will rules
  • Which assets can a UAE will cover?
  • Guardianship for minor children
  • Documents to prepare
  • How the registration process works
  • UAE will registration costs in 2026
  • Can a will be changed later?
  • Residents, non-residents and cross-border assets
  • Common mistakes
  • How MIRAD can support the process
  • Frequently asked questions
  • Official sources

Why expats consider a UAE will

A registered will gives the testator a documented mechanism for specifying how covered assets should pass after death and, where the relevant regime permits it, for appointing executors and guardians. This is particularly relevant for expatriates with UAE real estate, corporate shareholdings, bank or brokerage accounts, digital assets, or family members who would otherwise need to rely on the default inheritance process.

The value of a will is not limited to changing percentages between heirs. It can also reduce uncertainty about which person is responsible for administering the estate, identify specific beneficiaries, address business ownership and coordinate guardianship planning for children. The correct drafting and registration route matters because the legal effect of a will depends on the framework under which it is registered.

What happens if an expat dies without a registered will?

The answer depends on the person’s status and the law applicable to the estate. For non-Muslims covered by the federal civil personal-status regime, Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 introduced a civil default inheritance structure. It should therefore not be described as a simple automatic application of Sharia rules.

Under the federal civil framework, the surviving spouse generally receives one half of the estate and the remaining half is distributed equally among the deceased’s children, without a male-female distinction. Further fallback rules apply where there are no children. The legislation also preserves situations in which an heir may seek application of another law, unless a registered will provides otherwise.

Practical point: a statutory default can still be very different from the family’s intended estate plan. It may not reflect a desired distribution between a spouse, children, parents, business partners or other beneficiaries, which is why a properly registered will remains relevant.

The main UAE will-registration routes

RouteWho it is designed forMain features
DIFC Courts Wills ServiceEligible non-Muslims aged 18+ with UAE assets and/or qualifying minor childrenCommon-law-based specialist registry; several will types; virtual registration available; UAE residency not required.
Abu Dhabi Civil Wills OfficeExpatriates / non-UAE citizens under the Abu Dhabi Civil Wills frameworkADJD provides a standard English-Arabic will template and online / video-conference registration procedures. ADJD states that non-UAE citizens may register regardless of religion.
Federal civil personal-status frameworkPersons governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 and its Executive RegulationsRegistered through the competent court; the federal regulations set formal validity conditions, including age, executor and witness requirements.
Other local / personal-status routesCases outside the above regimes, including situations governed by other personal-status rulesThe correct court, governing law and testamentary limits should be assessed before drafting.

Do not choose the registry only by price. Eligibility, religion, age, location of children, type of assets, probate route and cross-border enforceability can be more important than the registration fee.

DIFC Courts Wills

The DIFC Courts Wills Service is a specialist regime for non-Muslims. According to the current DIFC FAQ, an eligible testator must be non-Muslim, at least 18 years old and own assets in the UAE and/or have minor children residing with them in the UAE. A UAE residence visa is not required: eligible non-residents can register virtually from outside the country.

Types of DIFC Courts Wills

Will typeWhat it can coverWhen it may fit
Full WillMovable and immovable assets within the jurisdiction stated in the will; guardianship provisions can also be included where the rules allowBroad estate planning across several asset classes.
Property WillUp to five UAE real estate properties or shares in those propertiesA testator whose main UAE estate is real estate.
Business Owners WillShareholdings in up to five UAE companiesFounders and shareholders focusing on business interests.
Financial Assets WillUp to ten UAE bank and/or brokerage accountsA person mainly concerned with financial accounts.
Digital Assets WillDigital assets covered by the DIFC form and rulesEstate planning focused on qualifying digital assets.
Guardianship WillGuardianship provisions for qualifying minor childrenParents who need a guardianship solution without an asset-distribution will.

A DIFC Full Will is materially different from an asset-specific template. The DIFC states that a properly drafted Full Will can cover movable and immovable property owned at death, including assets acquired after registration. By contrast, a Property, Business Owners or Financial Assets Will covers the specific assets listed and may need to be replaced or modified when the asset list changes.

Important DIFC eligibility points

  • The DIFC Wills Service is for non-Muslims; its current FAQ states that the testator must not be Muslim and must never have been Muslim.
  • The minimum age under the DIFC regime is 18.
  • The testator does not need to be a UAE resident.
  • Executors and guardians do not automatically have to be UAE residents, although the appointment should still comply with the Rules and UAE public policy.
  • Guardianship provisions have additional conditions concerning where the children reside and the position at the time of probate.

Abu Dhabi Civil Wills

The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) operates a Civil Wills framework through the Civil Family Court. ADJD provides a standardised Last Will and Testament template in English and Arabic and an electronic process for submitting the application, paying the fee and arranging the authentication appointment.

Current ADJD guidance states that a non-UAE citizen may register a will with the Abu Dhabi Civil Wills Office regardless of religion. This is an important distinction from the DIFC Wills Service, which is limited to non-Muslims.

ADJD currently publishes a regular Civil Will registration fee of AED 950. Its Civil Family Court page also refers to a special will registration option at AED 2,500. The applicable service and current fee should be confirmed before filing.

The ADJD FAQ describes an online application followed by review, payment and a video-conference appointment. If approved, the will is officially certified and notarised by the Judicial Department.

Federal civil will rules

Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 and Cabinet Resolution No. 122 of 2023 establish a civil personal-status framework for the persons within their scope. The Executive Regulations contain specific requirements for registration and validity of a civil will.

  • The will is registered in the designated register at the competent court.
  • The federal civil-will route applies to a non-Muslim testator subject to that framework.
  • The will must nominate an executor and state how the testate property is to be disposed of.
  • The testator must be of full capacity and at least 21 years old under these federal regulations.
  • The regulations include signature and witness requirements and other formal validity conditions.
  • Fees and the relevant court procedure must be completed for registration.

This is why age and eligibility should never be stated as one universal UAE rule. The DIFC Wills regime uses an 18-year minimum, while the federal civil-will regulations use 21 for the testator under that framework.

Which assets can a UAE will cover?

The answer depends on the type of will and registry. Common UAE assets considered in estate planning include real estate, company shares, bank and brokerage accounts, vehicles, valuables, intellectual property and qualifying digital assets. The asset description should match the requirements of the chosen will type.

AssetTypical planning issueWhat to check
UAE real estateOwnership can be in one or several emirates and may include jointly owned propertyTitle details, ownership share and whether the chosen Will covers all UAE property or listed properties only.
Company sharesDeath of a shareholder can affect control and successionShareholding documents, constitutional documents, shareholder agreements and whether a Business Owners or Full Will is more appropriate.
Bank / brokerage accountsAccounts may be spread across several banks or investment providersExact account-holding entity and whether the chosen Will is asset-specific.
Digital assetsAccess, control and succession can be technically complexWhether the asset falls within the relevant registry’s Digital Assets Will or broader Full Will framework.
Foreign assetsA UAE Will may not automatically be enforceable abroadConflict-of-laws advice and whether a separate foreign will or coordinated estate plan is needed.

Off-plan property should be reviewed individually. Whether it can or should be listed depends on the registration route, the contractual and title status of the property and the wording of the will. It is safer to verify the registry requirements than to assume that every off-plan asset is automatically accepted or excluded.

Guardianship for minor children

For parents, guardianship can be as important as asset distribution. A will can be used under the relevant framework to express who should take responsibility for minor children if the parents die, but the legal effect and eligibility rules depend on the registry.

The DIFC Courts Wills Service offers a separate Guardianship Will and allows guardianship provisions in a suitably drafted Full Will. Current DIFC materials describe Guardianship Wills for minors below 18. The DIFC FAQ also notes that guardianship provisions in a Full Will apply subject to territorial conditions, including the child’s residence in Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah at the relevant probate stage.

  • Identify both interim and permanent guardians where the chosen framework permits this.
  • Check that the proposed guardian satisfies the relevant eligibility and UAE public-policy requirements.
  • Do not assume the guardian must be a UAE resident; for DIFC Wills, residency is not an automatic requirement.
  • Review passports, relationship details, addresses and contact information before drafting.
  • Coordinate guardianship planning with the other parent’s will so the documents do not conflict.

Documents to prepare for UAE will registration

The exact list changes by registry and will type. A normal preparation file can include the following information and documents.

  • Passport and identification documents of the testator.
  • Emirates ID and UAE residence details where applicable.
  • Beneficiary names, identification details, relationship to the testator and intended distribution.
  • Executor details and identification documents.
  • Guardian details where the will contains guardianship provisions.
  • Title deeds or property ownership documents for asset-specific property wills.
  • Company licence, share certificate, register extract or other evidence of shareholdings for a business-owner will.
  • Bank or brokerage evidence for an asset-specific financial will.
  • Existing wills in the UAE or other jurisdictions, so that conflicting testamentary documents can be identified.
  • Marriage, divorce, birth or other family-status documents where they are relevant to the estate plan.
  • Certified translation, attestation or legalisation documents where required by the chosen court or for foreign-issued documents.

How UAE will registration works

The workflow varies by registry, but the following sequence is a useful planning framework.

UAE will registration costs in 2026

Registration fees differ sharply between the available regimes. Professional drafting, translation, legal review and cross-border advice are separate from registry fees unless expressly included.

Current DIFC Courts Wills Service fees

DIFC WillSingle WillMirror Wills
Full WillAED 10,000AED 15,000
Guardianship WillAED 5,000AED 7,500
Property WillAED 7,500AED 10,000
Business Owners WillAED 5,000AED 7,500
Financial Assets WillAED 5,000AED 7,500
Digital Assets WillAED 5,000AED 7,500

DIFC also publishes non-refundable booking fees that are deductible from the service fee but can be lost in specified cancellation or rescheduling situations. Check the current fee schedule immediately before booking.

Abu Dhabi Civil Wills fee

The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department currently publishes a regular Civil Will registration fee of AED 950. Its Civil Family Court guidance also lists a special registration option at AED 2,500. Translation, drafting or legal-support costs can be additional.

Can a registered UAE will be changed later?

Yes, but the mechanism depends on the registry. The original article’s statement that a UAE will cannot be amended and must simply be cancelled and registered from scratch is too broad.

For DIFC Courts Wills, the current FAQ specifically provides for modification. Where the contents of a Full Will need to change, the revised will is prepared and signed again through the registration process. DIFC currently publishes a modification fee of AED 550 per Will.

Asset-specific DIFC wills deserve particular attention. If a new property, company shareholding or financial account is to be covered by a will that only protects listed assets, the will may need to be modified or replaced so the new asset is actually included.

Residents, non-residents and cross-border assets

UAE residency is not a universal requirement for will registration. The DIFC Courts Wills Service expressly allows eligible non-residents to register virtually from outside the UAE. Abu Dhabi also provides electronic Civil Wills procedures, although the exact eligibility and filing route should be checked for the applicant’s circumstances.

Foreign assets require additional care. ADJD states that funds and property outside the UAE can be included in a Civil Will. DIFC also allows a drafted Full Will to extend beyond UAE assets, but DIFC expressly warns that enforcement abroad is not guaranteed. Where a person has assets in several countries, the wills should be coordinated so that one document does not accidentally revoke or conflict with another.

Common mistakes when registering a UAE will

  • Assuming that every expat uses the same UAE will-registration procedure.
  • Writing that Sharia automatically applies to every non-Muslim expat estate without considering the federal civil inheritance framework.
  • Choosing DIFC without checking the non-Muslim eligibility rule.
  • Using a universal age threshold even though DIFC and the federal civil-will regulations use different minimum ages.
  • Using an asset-specific will when the estate contains several different asset classes.
  • Failing to update a Property, Business Owners or Financial Assets Will after the listed assets change.
  • Assuming every UAE will must be bilingual. ADJD provides an English-Arabic template, while DIFC has its own registration and language arrangements.
  • Assuming the will can never be changed after registration.
  • Treating guardianship as an automatic consequence of the asset-distribution clauses.
  • Failing to check existing wills in the testator’s home country for revocation or conflict clauses.
  • Assuming a UAE will will automatically be enforced against property in every foreign jurisdiction.
  • Using an off-plan property description without verifying whether the selected registry and current ownership documents support it.

How MIRAD can support UAE will and inheritance planning

MIRAD can help organise the UAE side of the estate-planning process, identify which registration route should be reviewed and coordinate the documents with qualified UAE legal practitioners where regulated legal advice or drafting is required.

  • Initial review of UAE assets, family circumstances and existing wills.
  • Comparison of DIFC, Abu Dhabi Civil Wills and other potentially relevant registration routes.
  • Preparation of the document checklist for property, company shares, bank accounts and family-status documents.
  • Coordination of certified translation, notarisation and document legalisation where required.
  • Support with registration appointments and administrative filing steps.
  • Coordination with licensed UAE lawyers or registered will draftsmen for legal drafting and advice.
  • Review of company-share succession together with corporate documents and shareholder agreements.
  • Coordination with foundation or wider succession-planning structures where a simple will may not be sufficient.
Plan the UAE estate before it becomes an inheritance case

MIRAD can help organise the assets and documents, compare the available UAE will-registration routes and coordinate the process with qualified legal practitioners where required.

Request will and inheritance support

Wills for expats in the UAE: FAQ

Do non-Muslim expats automatically fall under Sharia inheritance rules if they have no will?

Who can register a DIFC Courts Will?

Can a Muslim expatriate register a DIFC Will?

How much does a UAE will cost to register?

Do I need to be a UAE resident to register a will?

What is the difference between a DIFC Full Will and a Property Will?

Can a UAE will include company shares?

Can I appoint a guardian for my children in a UAE will?

Are minor children under 21 for all UAE wills?

Can I change a DIFC Will after it is registered?

Does every UAE will have to be in English and Arabic?

Can I include off-plan property in my UAE will?

Can a UAE will cover assets outside the UAE?

Do I need a lawyer to register a UAE will?

Official sources

  • UAE Legislation — Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 on Civil Personal Status.
  • UAE Legislation — Cabinet Resolution No. 122 of 2023 concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022.
  • DIFC Courts — Wills Service.
  • DIFC Courts — Wills FAQ, Rules and Directions, and current Fee Schedule.
  • Abu Dhabi Judicial Department — Civil Family Court: Civil Wills and Inheritance.
  • Abu Dhabi Judicial Department — Civil Wills FAQ and Last Will and Testament forms.
  • The Official Platform of the UAE Government — personal status for non-Muslims.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal, succession, tax or guardianship advice for a specific person. The correct inheritance law, will-registration route and enforceability depend on religion, nationality, residence, emirate, family circumstances, asset location, existing wills and the law governing each asset. Registry rules and fees can change. Before acting, verify the current requirements with the relevant UAE authority and obtain advice from a qualified legal professional where required.

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