How to Make a Will in the UAE: A 2026 Guide for Expats

Why a UAE will matters, even if you already have one at home

A will made in your home country generally does not automatically cover assets you hold inside the UAE, bank accounts, property, a share in a business, or the guardianship of children living here. Non-Muslim residents can register a will locally, through the DIFC Wills Service Centre or the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD), so that their UAE-based assets and family wishes are recognised by UAE courts directly, rather than defaulting to local inheritance rules.

What a UAE will can cover

A registered non-Muslim will typically sets out instructions for:

• UAE bank accounts, investments and personal assets
• Property owned anywhere in the Emirates
• Guardianship of children under 18
• Shares in a UAE business

If your situation involves more than one of these, for example property plus young children, it is worth mentioning both when you first reach out, so the right type of will is recommended from the start.

DIFC or Abu Dhabi (ADJD)? A quick note

Both are legitimate, English-language registries open to non-Muslims with UAE assets. DIFC is the longer-established, widely recognised option; ADJD is often quicker and can work out lower cost for simpler estates. Which one suits you depends on where your assets sit and your own preference, we cover the comparison in detail in our guide to DIFC vs ADJD wills. If you are not sure, just describe your situation and the right registry can be confirmed for you.

Documents you will be asked for

• Passport and Emirates ID
• A list of your assets and accounts
• Your beneficiaries and how you'd like assets distributed
• Guardian details, if you have children

You do not need everything finalised before you start a conversation, tell us what you already have, and we will confirm what's still missing before any regulated work begins.

How the process runs, step by step

In practice, making a UAE will through a facilitation service like DocuGulf follows four stages: you describe your situation and receive a recommended registry and exact quote; you share your documents securely; the will is drafted and registration is coordinated with the licensed partner; and finally the registered will is delivered to you, with updates throughout so you're never left wondering where things stand.

What it costs and how long it takes

Our all-in service fee for drafting and registering a will starts from AED 5,900, covering preparation, coordination with the licensed partner and delivery, government registration fees are always shown separately at cost. Turnaround is typically 2–4 weeks. For a fuller breakdown of what drives the price up or down, see our guide on how much a will costs in Dubai.

Key takeaways

A note on scope: DocuGulf is a documentation facilitation service. All kinds of work is performed by licensed notaries, translators and approved typing centres. Reach us at info@docugulf.com or +971 58 569 3628.