Over 8.7 million expatriates call the UAE home — yet the vast majority have no registered will covering their UAE assets. Bank accounts, property, business shares, and vehicles accumulated over years of hard work can become legally frozen in the event of death, leaving families facing months of administrative complexity at the worst possible time.
The good news is that the UAE has invested significantly in protecting expat inheritance rights. A landmark legal reform — Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 on Civil Personal Status — came into force in February 2023, creating a clear secular framework for non-Muslim succession that operates entirely outside Sharia inheritance principles. Combined with dedicated will registration services at the DIFC and Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD), expats in the UAE now have robust, accessible tools to protect what they have built.
This guide explains what you need to know about wills and succession planning for expats in the UAE: the legal landscape, your registration options, the step-by-step process, and what a comprehensive plan looks like beyond the will itself.
Why Expats in the UAE Need a Will
For years, the default position under UAE law was straightforward and, for many non-Muslim expats, alarming: without a registered will, local assets were distributed according to Sharia inheritance rules, regardless of the deceased’s religion or wishes. A surviving spouse had no guarantee of inheriting. Children could receive unequal shares. Bank accounts could be frozen for months.
The 2023 reform has improved the default position meaningfully. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022, if a non-Muslim expat dies without a will, their estate now passes to the surviving spouse (half) and children in equal shares, with no distinction between sons and daughters.
However, the critical word is ‘default.’ The default only applies if no one invokes the deceased’s home country law — which any heir can request under the same legislation. The outcome in that scenario is uncertain and will depend on the laws of the home jurisdiction. A registered UAE will removes this ambiguity entirely. It gives you full testamentary freedom to leave your UAE assets to whoever you choose, appoint an executor, and name guardians for your children — with no room for dispute.
One important misconception: a will registered in your home country does not automatically cover your UAE assets. Foreign wills face significant procedural hurdles in UAE courts, can cause considerable delays, and may not be enforced as intended. A separate UAE-registered will is the only reliable solution for UAE-based assets.
Your Will Registration Options
Non-Muslim expats in the UAE have three main pathways for will registration. The right choice depends on where your assets are located, the language you prefer to work in, and your budget.
| DIFC Wills Service | Abu Dhabi Judicial Dept (ADJD) | Dubai Courts | |
| Asset coverage | All UAE emirates + worldwide assets | Abu Dhabi emirate; can cover all UAE | Dubai + other emirates |
| Language | English | Arabic (translation needed) | Arabic (translation needed) |
| Govt. registration fee | AED 10,000 (single); AED 15,000 (mirror) | AED 950 – 2,000+ | ~AED 2,020 |
| Non-residents eligible? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Comprehensive English-language coverage; multi-emirate assets; guardianship provisions | Abu Dhabi-focused asset holders; lower cost | Cost-effective option for Dubai-based assets |
The DIFC Wills Service Centre is the most popular choice among English-speaking expats. It offers five will types — Full Will, Property Will, Financial Assets Will, Business Owners Will, and Guardianship Will — and can be completed in person or via video conference. Fees quoted above are government registration fees only and do not include legal drafting costs.
How to Register a Will at the DIFC: Step by Step
- Choose your will type. A Full Will covers all UAE assets and guardianship. If your needs are narrower — property only, financial accounts only, or business shares only — DIFC offers specialist will types. For most expats with a family, the Full Will is the appropriate choice.
- Draft the will. DIFC template wills are available, but for anything beyond a simple estate — business ownership, multi-country assets, specific bequests — professional legal drafting is strongly recommended to ensure enforceability.
- Book your appointment. Appointments are made through the DIFC Wills Service Centre online portal. A video conferencing option is available if you cannot attend in person.
- Sign in the presence of two witnesses. Witnesses must be over 21, must not be beneficiaries, and must not be the testator’s spouse. One witness can be provided by the DIFC registry if needed.
- Pay registration fees and receive your registered will. Your will is now legally registered and enforceable in the UAE. Store it securely and ensure your executor knows where to find it.
Timelines vary. A straightforward application can move from draft to registration in as little as a few days; more complex estates typically take two to four weeks. Wills should be reviewed every three to five years and updated after any major life event — marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, or a significant change in your asset profile.
What Your UAE Will Can — and Cannot — Cover
Understanding the scope of a UAE will helps ensure there are no gaps in your planning:
- Covered: UAE bank accounts, investment accounts, and cash savings
- Covered: UAE real estate (freehold and leasehold property)
- Covered: Shares in UAE-registered companies (freezone, mainland, or offshore)
- Covered: Personal belongings, vehicles, and other movable property in the UAE
- Covered: Appointment of an executor and guardians for minor children
- NOT covered: Assets held outside the UAE — these require separate wills in the relevant jurisdictions
- NOT covered: End-of-service gratuity — governed by UAE labour law, not by succession
- NOT covered: Life insurance payouts — these pass directly to the named policy beneficiary, not through your will
The guardianship provisions of a DIFC Full Will deserve special mention. Non-Muslim expat parents can appoint both interim guardians (who can take custody immediately) and permanent guardians for their minor children residing in Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah. This is one of the most valuable and frequently overlooked elements of the DIFC will framework.
Succession Planning Beyond the Will
A registered will is essential — but for expats with more complex financial lives, it is the foundation of a broader succession plan, not the entirety of it.
- UAE Foundations are increasingly used by high-net-worth families and family offices to hold and transfer assets across generations with strong confidentiality, flexible governance, and built-in succession mechanisms. Unlike a will, a Foundation takes effect immediately and avoids the probate process entirely.
- If you own shares in a UAE company, ensure your articles of association or a shareholders’ agreement address what happens to your shares on death. Without clear documentation, business succession can become contentious and disruptive.
- Review all beneficiary designations on your life insurance policies and bank accounts. These assets pass outside of your will to whomever is named as beneficiary. If your designations are outdated, they override your written wishes.
- If you hold assets in multiple countries, coordinate your UAE will with any home-country or offshore estate planning. A UAE will covers worldwide assets in principle, but enforcement in another jurisdiction depends on the laws of that country. Cross-border coordination is critical.
- A UAE Power of Attorney is a complementary document that grants a trusted individual authority to act on your behalf if you are incapacitated. It is separate from a will but equally important for comprehensive planning.
Take Action: Secure Your UAE Estate
The UAE has built one of the most expat-friendly succession frameworks in the Middle East. The legal tools are in place. What remains is the decision to use them.
Whether you are registering your first will, updating an existing one, or building a multi-layered succession plan that spans business interests and family assets, the process is more straightforward than most people expect — particularly with the right advisor by your side.
At Rosemont, we work with expats, business owners, and families across the UAE to build succession plans that are practical, compliant, and built around their specific situation. From DIFC will registration and ADJD filings through to UAE Foundations and cross-border coordination, we handle the complexity so you don’t have to.
Get in touch with Rosemont today for a confidential consultation on wills and succession planning for expats in the UAE.
