DIFC Will for Non-Muslim Expats: Types, Fees and Steps

By Sumit Manwal, Founder, Hospitality Vacancy | Updated: 12 November 2026

In short: A DIFC will lets non-Muslims aged 18 or over with UAE assets or minor children in the UAE decide who inherits and who becomes guardian. There are five will types, signing is by video with two non-beneficiary witnesses, and UAE residence is not required. Keep a separate Indian will for Indian assets.

A DIFC will is the most widely used way for non-Muslim expats in the UAE to decide who inherits their UAE bank balances, property and business shares, and who looks after their children if the worst happens. For Indian families in Dubai, Sharjah or Ras Al Khaimah, it is often the single document that stops a salary account being stuck for months after a death.

This guide explains who can register a DIFC Courts will, the five types available, how the virtual signing works, the fees the DIFC publishes, and how a UAE will fits alongside a separate will for your assets in India.

This is general information, not legal advice. Succession rules are technical and fact-specific; speak to a registered wills draftsman or lawyer before you sign.

Why expats in the UAE need a registered will

Many expats assume that their home-country will, or simply being married, is enough for UAE assets. It often is not. The DIFC Courts Wills FAQ notes that many expatriates do not realise that, without a registered will, transferring their UAE assets after death is time consuming and legally complex. In practice, accounts in the deceased person's sole name can be frozen, and families may need court orders before they can access funds or sell property.

A registered will gives the courts clear instructions. The DIFC Courts Wills Service was set up by DIFC Resolution No. 4 of 2014, and its authority was reaffirmed by Dubai Law No. 15 of 2017 on inheritance, wills and probate for non-Muslims.

Who can register a DIFC will?

The DIFC states three conditions. You must:

not be a Muslim and never have been a Muslim;
be at least 18 years old;
own assets in the UAE and/or have minor children living with you in the UAE.

You do not have to be a UAE resident. An Indian professional who has moved from Dubai to Canada but still owns a Dubai flat can register one. Your executors and guardians also do not need to live in the UAE. The DIFC advises that it is not suitable for Muslims to register there and suggests separate legal advice.

The five types of DIFC will

Choosing the right type is the first real decision. The DIFC registers five:

Type	What it covers	Good fit for
Full Will	All movable and immovable property in the stated jurisdiction, plus interim and permanent guardians for minor children living in Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah	Families with children and several assets
Guardianship Will	Appointment of guardians for minor children only	Parents whose main worry is the children
Property Will	Up to five UAE real estate properties (online template)	Property investors
Business Owners Will	Up to five UAE shareholdings (online template)	Company owners and partners
Financial Assets Will	Up to ten bank or brokerage accounts held at UAE branches (online template)	Salaried expats with savings and investments

One important difference: a Full Will covers everything you own in the stated jurisdiction at the date of death, including assets bought after registration. The Property, Business Owners and Financial Assets wills cover only the specific assets listed, so you must modify them when you buy or sell.

Can a DIFC will cover my assets in India?

A drafted Full Will can extend beyond the UAE, but the DIFC itself warns that enforcement in other countries is not guaranteed and depends on local law. For Indian property, bank accounts and investments, most families keep a separate Indian will and make sure the two documents do not contradict or revoke each other. Our guides on how to make a valid NRI will from abroad and the 2026 guide to wills for Indian and foreign assets cover the India side in detail.

A sensible structure for many Gulf-based Indians is:

a DIFC Full Will (or Financial Assets Will) for UAE assets and guardianship;
an Indian will for Indian assets, signed with two witnesses;
a clause in each will limiting it to its own jurisdiction, so the later will does not revoke the earlier one.

DIFC will process step by step

Prepare the will. You can draft it yourself under the DIFC Wills and Probate Registry Rules, use the online template (mandatory for the Property, Business Owners and Financial Assets wills), or appoint a registered wills draftsman.
Upload documents. A copy of your valid passport and Emirates ID (if you have one), and passport copies of both witnesses. Property Wills need title deeds or Oqood certificates; Business Owners Wills need share certificates; guardianship provisions need signed Guardianship Statements from each guardian.
Book and pay. The registration fee is paid online when you book the appointment (an offline payment option is also offered).
Sign by video or in person. All DIFC wills are signed electronically. You and your two witnesses can join a video call from anywhere in the world, so you do not need to fly to Dubai.
Keep the confirmation. The electronic will is the original; the Wills Service does not hold paper copies. Tell your executor where to find the registration details.

Witness rules that trip people up

Witnesses must be at least 18 and carry a valid passport, Emirates ID or other government photo ID. They must not be beneficiaries or guardians in the will, or the spouses of beneficiaries or guardians. Family members who meet these rules can act as witnesses, and a registered draftsman or your executor may be one if eligible.

Beneficiaries and guardians are not allowed at the signing, except a spouse executing a mirror will. The DIFC does not accept translators or a power of attorney at signing appointments, so you and your witnesses need basic English. If a parent who speaks only Hindi or Malayalam wants a DIFC will, plan for this before booking.

DIFC will fees you should know

Registration fees depend on the type of will and are set out in Article IX of the DIFC Courts fee schedule. The figures the Wills FAQ itself states are:

modification of any DIFC will: AED 550 per will;
cancelling an appointment before registration: AED 1,000 per will is non-refundable;
withdrawing a will: no fee;
applying for a Grant of Probate after death: USD 1,500;
registration fees are not subject to the UAE's 5% VAT.

Lawyers' and draftsmen's charges are separate and set by each firm, so ask for a written quote. Check the current fee schedule on the DIFC website on the day you book, because fees can change.

What happens after death

When a testator with a registered will dies, the DIFC Courts issue Probate Orders, and Guardianship Orders where needed, to the people named in the will. Those orders are executed through the Dubai Courts as a standard formality. The DIFC says transitional provisions in the newer law confirm that wills registered earlier remain valid and do not need to be re-done.

Your family will still need the death certificate, passports and the will details. Pair the will with adequate life cover, because probate takes time; see term insurance for NRI families for how to size it.

DIFC will or Abu Dhabi will?

Non-Muslim expats can also register wills with the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, which many Abu Dhabi residents use. The choice depends on where you live, where your assets are, whether you need guardianship provisions for children in a particular emirate, cost and language. Your draftsman can compare the options for your situation.

Checklist before you book

List every UAE asset: bank accounts, end-of-service benefit, property, shares, vehicles.
Decide executors and, if you have children, interim and permanent guardians.
Pick two eligible witnesses with valid ID and basic English.
Choose the will type and confirm it does not clash with your Indian will.
Tell your spouse and executor where the registration confirmation is kept.

Your end-of-service gratuity is often a large part of a Gulf worker's estate. Our UAE gratuity calculation guide shows how it is worked out.

FAQ

Can Indians register a DIFC will?

Yes, if they are non-Muslim, at least 18, and have assets in the UAE or minor children living with them there. Nationality does not matter, and UAE residence is not required.

Do I need to travel to Dubai to sign?

No. DIFC wills are signed electronically, and you and your two witnesses can attend by video call from anywhere in the world. In-person signing at the DIFC office is also possible.

Can my wife be a witness?

Not if she is a beneficiary or guardian under your will, which is usually the case. Witnesses must not be beneficiaries, guardians or the spouses of either.

Does a DIFC will replace my Indian will?

It should not. Most Indian expats keep a DIFC will for UAE assets and a separate Indian will for Indian assets, each limited to its own jurisdiction so one does not revoke the other.

How much does it cost to change a DIFC will?

The DIFC charges AED 550 per will for a modification, which means signing a new will that replaces the old one. Draftsman fees, if you use one, are extra.

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