You have purchased a property in Dubai. You have a bank account, perhaps some business shares, and a family depending on you. Everything is in order. Except for one thing, most expat property owners quietly defer: a UAE will.

The reality is that a significant number of expat property owners in the UAE have no registered will covering their UAE assets. The consequences of that gap, when they materialise, fall entirely on the people left behind. 

What Happens to Your Property Without a UAE Will

When a non-Muslim expat dies in the UAE without a registered UAE will, the process that follows is slow, costly, and often deeply distressing for surviving family members. Bank accounts are frozen immediately upon notification of death. Property title deeds cannot be transferred, and the surviving spouse and children may be unable to access funds for months.

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The family must petition the Dubai Personal Status Court to appoint an estate administrator. That process can take anywhere from six to eighteen months, requires extensive documentation that often needs to be translated, attested, and apostilled, and frequently costs more in legal fees than a UAE will would have cost to register in the first place.

And throughout all of this, the distribution of your assets is determined by default legal rules, not by your wishes.

What the Default Rules Actually Say

Under Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022 on Civil Personal Status, the UAE’s default inheritance framework for non-Muslims distributes the estate as follows: half goes to the surviving spouse, and the remaining half is divided equally among the children. If there are no children, the second half passes to the parents, or to siblings if both parents have already passed away.

This framework does not account for unmarried partners, stepchildren, friends, or specific charitable bequests. It does not allow you to leave a particular property to a particular person. And it does not address the guardianship of your minor children, which defaults to court discretion rather than your own stated preference.

UAE wills exist precisely to override these defaults and replace them with your actual intentions.

Where to Register Wills in the UAE

Non-Muslim expats in the UAE have two main options for registering UAE wills.

• DIFC Wills Service Centre: Established under Dubai Law No. 15 of 2017 and strengthened by Dubai Law No. 2 of 2025, this is the most widely used route for expats with Dubai-based assets. Dubai wills registered here are processed in English under a common-law framework, with probate typically completed within four to eight weeks.

• Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD): Registered in Arabic under civil law, with fees starting from approximately AED 950, this is a lower-cost alternative for those whose assets or circumstances suit this route.

What a UAE Will Can Cover for Expats 

A UAE will for expats can be structured to cover a wide range of assets and arrangements, depending on the will type chosen:

• Full Will: Covers all movable and immovable property in the UAE at the time of death, plus the appointment of guardians for minor children residing in Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah
• Property Will: Covers up to five real estate properties or shares in such properties
• Financial Assets Will: Covers up to 10 bank accounts and investment accounts
• Business Owners Will: Covers up to five UAE shareholdings

For expats with assets across multiple countries, a UAE will for expats works alongside, rather than instead of, a home country will. Each document governs the assets in its respective jurisdiction. Where a property is mortgaged, the bank may demand full repayment before any transfer can proceed, which makes life insurance an important consideration alongside will registration.

What a UAE Will Online Registration Looks Like

For those who cannot attend in person, UAE will online registration is available through the DIFC Wills Service Centre’s Virtual Registry, which allows testators to complete and sign their will via secure video conference. The DIFC Courts also offer an online Property Will Portal specifically for real estate assets. 

To register, you will need a valid passport, an Emirates ID if you are a resident, your UAE visa page, title deed details where applicable, and the full details of your named beneficiaries, guardians, and executor. While the process is accessible, choosing the right will type, structuring your asset coverage correctly, and naming guardians and executors in a legally sound way are decisions best made with professional guidance. 

Secure Your Assets Before You Need To

UAE wills are not a product for the elderly or the unwell. They are a practical legal tool for anyone who owns property, holds a bank account, or has a family in the UAE. The cost of registering is a fraction of what probate without a will typically costs in time, money, and stress.

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A qualified legal or estate planning consultant can help you choose the right type of UAE will, identify which of your assets need to be covered, and ensure your registration is structured correctly. Getting it right now means the people you care about are protected without having to fight for what should already be theirs.