Smart Zones® - Your UAE Entry Partner
Business • Residency • Banking • Wealth • Investment
Smart Zones® - Your UAE Entry Partner
Business • Residency • Banking • Wealth • Investment
DIFC Wills, Dubai, UAE
Protect your family and UAE assets with a registered common-law will, including remote registration for non-residents.
Free, no-obligation consultation on the right will type for you.
A DIFC Will lets non-Muslim residents and UAE asset owners register a common-law-based will covering property, business shares, financial assets and guardianship of minor children, recognised in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah courts. Non-residents can complete registration remotely via video-link signing. Registration and drafting assistance costs vary by will type and complexity, contact our team for a tailored quote. This page is general information only, not legal advice, and a qualified lawyer should always be consulted for drafting your will.
Why It Matters
Without a registered will, a non-Muslim resident's UAE assets can, in practice, be distributed according to default inheritance rules under onshore law, and accounts and property can be frozen while the estate is processed, sometimes leaving surviving spouses and children in a difficult position. A DIFC Will gives non-Muslims a common-law-based route to register a will that names beneficiaries, guardians for minor children and executors on their own terms, recognised across Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah.
Choosing Your Route
Common-law process in English, aimed at expatriates and non-Muslims, registered with the DIFC Wills Service Centre and recognised in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah.
A civil-law-based route administered directly by Dubai Courts, with its own registration process and documentation requirements.
The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department offers its own non-Muslim will registration route for assets and residents connected to Abu Dhabi.
Name exactly who inherits your UAE assets, rather than relying on default onshore succession rules.
Name a guardian of your choosing for minor children, a critical protection many families overlook.
A Grant of Probate from the DIFC Courts generally speeds up releasing assets to your named executor.
Before You Apply
Confirm whether a Full, Property, Guardianship, Business Owners or Financial Assets Will fits your assets.
Decide who inherits your assets and who will administer your estate.
Arrange two witnesses for signing, in person or via the approved video-link process.
Have your will drafted by a qualified lawyer before registration.
Getting Started
Decide between Full, Property, Guardianship, Business Owners or Financial Assets.
Have your will drafted to reflect your wishes and UAE assets correctly.
Schedule an in-person or video-link appointment with the DIFC Wills Service Centre.
Present your passport and Emirates ID or visa page as required.
Sign your will with two witnesses present, in person or via video-link.
Complete payment to finalise registration with the DIFC Wills Service Centre.
Your will is entered into the DIFC Wills register and a copy issued to you.
Revisit your will after major life events and update it as needed.
Budgeting
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Typical registration and drafting range | Varies by will type and complexity, contact us for a tailored quote |
| Will types | Full, Property, Guardianship, Business Owners, Financial Assets |
| Remote registration | Available for non-residents via video-link signing |
| Alternative routes | Dubai Courts Wills, Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) Wills |
| Recognition | DIFC Wills recognised in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah courts |
*Costs vary by jurisdiction, licence type, activity and visa requirements. Contact Smart Zones® UAE for a current, tailored quote.
Our Story
Smart Zones® UAE has helped more than 45,000 clients worldwide set up, relocate and protect their interests across the UAE, backed by 13+ years of experience in company formation, residency, banking and family trust formation.
Request Callback
The trust formation process was seamless from start to finish. Highly recommend Smart Zones UAE.
Professional, transparent, and fast. Exactly what I needed for my family's estate planning.
Clear guidance throughout and no hidden costs. Would use them again.
Responsive team and a genuinely smooth setup process from our first call to licence in hand.
Handled everything remotely for us with zero surprises on cost. Would use them again without hesitation.
Frequently Asked, and Ready When You Are
Send your details and our team will reply with next steps and a tailored quote.
Smart Zones® - Your UAE Entry Partner
Business • Residency • Banking • Wealth • Investment