Start with the legal route — not with a generic Will template
Dubai does not have one Will route for everyone. The rules differ depending on whether the testator is Muslim or non-Muslim, the registration route selected, the assets covered and whether guardianship or cross-border assets are involved. A foreign Will is not automatically useless, and a UAE Will does not automatically eliminate every probate or recognition step.
We help organise the Will information, identify the appropriate route, prepare the document pack and coordinate the next registration step. Where a route requires a registered legal practitioner — for example professional drafting of a DIFC Courts Will — we coordinate the file with the appropriate registered professional rather than presenting E-Notary Dubai as the court, registry or law firm. If your planning also involves authority over assets during your lifetime, see our Inheritance Power of Attorney page.
Muslim and Non-Muslim Wills Follow Different Frameworks
Non-Muslim Will Routes
- Dubai Law No. 15 of 2017 provides for non-Muslim Will registers at Dubai Courts and DIFC Courts.
- Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 and Cabinet Resolution No. 122 of 2023 regulate the federal civil personal-status Will route for persons within that regime.
- The right route depends on eligibility, assets, language, guardianship needs and the registration system selected.
Muslim Wills
- Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2024 contains the current Personal Status Law provisions governing Wills.
- A discretionary Will is generally effective within one-third of the estate; amounts above one-third are governed by Article 193.
- Article 184 places specific limits on a Will in favour of an heir, subject to the exceptions stated in the Law.
DIFC Wills: What the Current Service Actually Does
- The DIFC Courts Wills Service is for non-Muslims and maintains the Wills Registry for Non-Muslims.
- Current options include a Full Will and specialist routes for property, business shareholdings, financial assets and guardianship.
- Registration can be completed using electronic signatures and a remote video appointment, subject to current Wills Service procedures.
- A Full Will can address multiple asset categories and may include guardianship provisions; specialist template Wills have narrower scopes.
A DIFC Will is a registry and court route, not ordinary notarization. The Wills Service conducts registration checks and the DIFC Courts handle probate and related claims for Wills registered with them. Article 14(A)(4) of Dubai Law No. 2 of 2025 gives the DIFC Courts exclusive jurisdiction over claims and applications arising from non-Muslim Wills registered with the DIFC Courts. If professional legal drafting is used, DIFC directs users to lawyers on its registered Wills Draftsmen list.
Information to Prepare Before Your Will Is Drafted
- Testator's passport, Emirates ID if applicable, nationality and current residence details
- Religion / legal-route information needed to identify the applicable Will regime
- A clear list of UAE assets: property, bank or brokerage accounts, company interests and other material assets
- Beneficiaries and intended distribution — with names matched exactly to identity documents
- Proposed executor and any substitute executor
- Guardianship instructions where minor children are relevant to the selected route
- Any existing Will or foreign estate-planning document that needs review
For the federal civil personal-status route applicable to non-Muslims within its scope, Article 13 of Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 provides for registration of Wills in the designated register. Cabinet Resolution No. 122 of 2023 sets registration conditions, including naming an executor, stating how the property is to be disposed of, and signing/witness requirements. Requirements must be checked against the route actually being used; DIFC rules should not be copied into a Dubai Courts or federal filing, or vice versa.
Foreign Wills and Assets Outside the UAE
Do not assume that a Will made abroad is automatically invalid in the UAE. Depending on the estate and asset, a foreign Will may require recognition, certified Arabic translation, authentication or other probate steps. Equally, a UAE or DIFC Will should not be presented as automatically effective in every foreign jurisdiction. DIFC states that a Full Will may extend to assets outside the UAE, but recommends appropriate advice on enforceability in the foreign jurisdiction. If a foreign Will or supporting document needs Arabic translation for a UAE process, see our Legal Translation service.
Route check
Confirm status, asset profile, guardianship needs and the intended registration system.
Document review
Check identity data, beneficiaries, executors, assets, existing Wills and cross-border issues.
Prepare the correct format
Prepare the pack for the chosen route and coordinate a registered professional where required.
Registration support
Follow the signing, witness, portal, appointment and registration requirements of the selected authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Muslim and non-Muslim Wills follow different legal frameworks, and non-Muslims may have more than one registration route. The correct choice depends on status, assets, family situation and the registration authority.
Not automatically. A foreign Will may be relevant, but recognition and use can require court, translation, authentication or other probate steps depending on the asset and case. It should be reviewed before assuming either that it is sufficient or that it has no effect.
DIFC allows individuals to prepare certain Wills themselves and provides online template options for some types. If you choose professional legal drafting for a DIFC Courts Will, DIFC directs users to lawyers on its registered Wills Draftsmen list. We can organise the file and coordinate the appropriate registered professional where required.
Potentially, yes, but scope depends on the type selected. A Full Will can address multiple asset categories, while Property, Business Owners and Financial Assets Wills have narrower defined scopes.
DIFC offers a Guardianship Will and also allows guardianship provisions in a Full Will in qualifying circumstances. Eligibility and the children’s residence/status should be checked against current DIFC Rules rather than assumed from a generic template.
Yes, but the method depends on the registration regime. DIFC Wills are modified through the Wills Service process. Under Cabinet Resolution No. 122 of 2023, a registered revocation or a new conflicting Will can terminate an earlier Will in the federal civil personal-status route. Do not simply edit an old copy without following the appropriate registration process.
Same-Day Service
Contact us early for same-day processing availability.