DIFC Wills for non-Muslims in Dubai and the UAE
A Will is the last instruction you leave, so it has to hold. For a non-Muslim in the UAE, a DIFC Will is how you make certain it does: your assets to the people you choose, your children with those you trust, free of the default rules that would otherwise apply.
What is a DIFC Will?
A DIFC Will is a Will registered with the DIFC Wills Service in Dubai. It is open to non-Muslims and gives you testamentary freedom: you decide how your UAE assets pass, rather than leaving it to be determined under Sharia principles.
It is drafted and administered in English, and the DIFC Courts grant probate in English, which keeps administration simple for international families.
Who can make one?
Non-Muslims who have never been Muslim
Aged 18 or over
With assets in the UAE, or appointing guardians for children resident here
The five types of DIFC Will
MOST FAMILIES
Full Will
Everything in one document: specific gifts, complex provisions, assets outside the UAE, and guardianship.
Property Will
UAE real estate only.
Business Owners Will
Shares in UAE onshore and free zone companies. Offshore companies are excluded.
Financial Assets Will
Balances in accounts with a UAE-registered bank or broker.
Guardianship Will
The appointment of guardians for your children, and nothing else.
Four steps, start to registration
1
We listen
Your assets, your family, your wishes, and which Will fits.
2
We draft
In English, by qualified lawyers.
3
You review
Basic revisions before registration are within our fee.
4
We register
With the DIFC Wills Service, often remotely by video link.
Fixed fees, in full view
Our fee covers basic revisions before registration. DIFC charges a separate registration fee, and a separate amendment fee if a registered Will is later changed and re-registered.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be a non-Muslim to make a DIFC Will?+
Yes. DIFC Wills are for non-Muslims who have never been Muslim. If you are Muslim with UAE assets, different rules apply, and we can advise on the options.
Can a DIFC Will cover assets outside the UAE?+
A Full Will can. The other four types cover specific UAE assets only. We advise whether one Full Will, or a DIFC Will alongside a foreign Will, suits you better.
Can I register from outside the UAE?+
Yes. A DIFC Will can be registered from anywhere in the world. The whole process, including registration, is completed remotely, so you never need to set foot in our office or the DIFC Courts.
What is a mirror Will?+
A pair of near-identical Wills for a married couple, each leaving everything to the other and then to the same beneficiaries.
What happens when I die?+
Your executor applies to the DIFC Courts for probate, granted in English, which lets your estate be administered as your Will directs.
