Thousands of Indian, British, Filipino and other expat families in the UAE own a flat, a car, savings and an end-of-service payout, and many have young children at school in Dubai. Few have thought about what happens to all of that if they die suddenly in the country. Without a registered will, the DIFC Courts' own guidance warns that transferring assets to loved ones can be time-consuming and legally complex.
DIFC wills are the best-known answer for non-Muslims. This guide explains who can register one, the six will types and their fees in dirhams, how witnesses and video signing work, and how a DIFC will fits with a will for your property in India. It is based on the DIFC Courts' Wills Service pages and FAQ, checked on 12 November 2026.
Please note: this article is general information, not professional legal or insurance advice. Rules change, so check the official sources linked below or speak to a qualified professional before you decide. Read our disclaimer.
Table of contents
What are DIFC wills?
The DIFC Courts Wills Service is a joint initiative of the Government of Dubai and the DIFC Courts. It gives non-Muslims who live or invest in the UAE the option to pass on their assets and appoint guardians for their children according to their own wishes. It was set up by Resolution No. 4 of 2014 and its authority was reaffirmed by Dubai Law No. 15 of 2017, which regulates inheritance, wills and probate for non-Muslims.
In practice, DIFC wills are registered with the DIFC Courts Wills and Probate Registry. The Wills Service carries out the pre-registration checks, and when a testator dies, the DIFC Courts issue the probate and guardianship orders that let executors deal with the estate. The FAQ notes that DIFC Courts orders still go through the Dubai Courts for execution as a standard formality, and that the newer law confirms how that works.
Who can register DIFC wills?
According to the DIFC Courts' Wills FAQ, you can register if:
- you are not Muslim and have never been Muslim;
- you are at least 18 years old at the time of registration;
- you own assets in the UAE and/or have minor children living with you in the UAE (guardianship provisions cover children residing in Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah).
You do not need to be a UAE resident or hold a UAE visa. A non-resident who owns a Dubai apartment can register DIFC wills virtually from any part of the world. Your executors and guardians do not have to live in the UAE either. Some law firms quote an age of 21 by reference to Dubai Law No. 15 of 2017, so if you are under 21, confirm the current rule with the Wills Service before booking.
The 6 types of DIFC wills and what they cover
The Wills Service now lists six types of DIFC wills. Choosing the right one is the biggest decision, because the narrower templates only cover what is listed in them.
| Will type | What it covers | Fee (single / mirror) |
|---|---|---|
| Full Will | Movable and immovable UAE assets, optional guardianship and digital assets | AED 10,000 / 15,000 |
| Property Will | Up to 5 UAE real estate properties (online template) | AED 7,500 / 10,000 |
| Financial Assets Will | Up to 10 bank or brokerage accounts at UAE branches | AED 5,000 / 7,500 |
| Business Owners Will | Up to 5 shareholdings in the UAE | AED 5,000 / 7,500 |
| Digital Assets Will | Supported crypto-assets in the DIFC Courts' wallet | AED 5,000 / 7,500 |
| Guardianship Will | Guardians for minor children only, no assets | AED 5,000 / 7,500 |
Couples can choose mirror DIFC wills. A mirror will is for spouses: two separate wills signed in one joint appointment, at a lower combined fee. If you have more than one type of asset, the Full Will page says your choice must be a Full Will. It also covers everything you own in the stated jurisdiction at death, so you do not need to amend it each time you buy or sell. The Property, Business Owners and Financial Assets wills only cover the specific assets listed, so a new flat means a new will.
DIFC will cost: every fee you may pay
The headline fee is not the only cost of DIFC wills. From the DIFC Courts FAQ and service pages:
- Registration fee: AED 5,000 to AED 15,000 depending on the will type (table above), paid directly to the Wills Service, separate from any lawyer's drafting fee.
- No VAT: DIFC will registration fees are not subject to the 5% VAT.
- Cancellation: if you cancel an appointment before registering, AED 1,000 per will is non-refundable, and Dubai's Department of Finance charges AED 200 to refund the rest.
- Modifications: AED 550 per will. The Wills Service does not accept codicils, so any change means signing an updated will.
- Withdrawal: free.
- Probate later: the FAQ gives the fee for applying for a Grant of Probate as USD 1,500.
You pay online by credit card when you book, or choose offline payment and pay by cash or cheque at the office within 3 days to confirm the slot. Lawyers' drafting fees vary, and the Wills Service does not recommend one practitioner over another.
DIFC will registration: step by step
- Choose the will type, single or mirror, from the six DIFC wills above.
- Decide on a draftsman. You may draft your own Full Will or Guardianship Will to the Rules' minimum requirements, or use a lawyer from the official register of Wills Draftsmen. The Wills Service will not accept wills from lawyers who are not on that register, and it cannot give legal advice itself.
- Prepare the will on the Wills Service portal. Property, Business Owners and Financial Assets wills must be completed on the online template.
- Line up two witnesses. They must be at least 18, hold a valid passport or government photo ID, and must not be beneficiaries or guardians, or the spouses of beneficiaries or guardians. Family members who meet these rules can act.
- Book and pay for the registration appointment.
- Sign at the appointment. Witnesses can join by virtual meeting link from anywhere in the world, so a testator in Mumbai with witnesses in London can still complete DIFC will registration.
Off-plan property can go into a Property Will if you have the Oqood certificate from RERA; for a Full Will, proof of ownership is not required at registration.
DIFC wills and your assets in India
A DIFC Full Will can include assets outside the UAE, but the FAQ is careful: enforcing it abroad depends on the laws where those assets sit, so take advice for each country. Most NRIs therefore keep two documents: DIFC wills for UAE assets and a separate Indian will for the flat in Pune or the family land in Kerala.
The FAQ also warns that making another will elsewhere could invalidate your DIFC will if it is not drafted carefully, so each will should clearly limit itself to its own assets. Our NRI will in India guide explains witnesses, registration and the 2025 probate change for Indian assets. If someone will manage your Indian property while you are abroad, read our guide to a power of attorney for NRIs.
When to update your DIFC will
Under the DIFC Rules, a later marriage revokes your will unless the will clearly states your intention to marry that person. A divorce means gifts and appointments to the former spouse are treated as if that spouse had died. Other triggers the FAQ lists include a new child, new guardians, a big change in your UAE assets or a change in beneficiaries.
Reviewing DIFC wills every few years is sensible even without these events. Simple address changes do not need a new will; tell the Wills Service so your executors are not delayed. While you are reviewing your paperwork, check what your family would receive from your UAE gratuity and whether your term insurance names the right nominee. Our sister blog explains how to invest your Gulf salary so there is something to pass on.
Sources
This guide was checked against these official and reputable sources on 12 November 2026:
- DIFC Courts: Wills FAQ (eligibility, witnesses, fees, modifications, other jurisdictions)
- DIFC Courts: Full Will - mandatory provisions and registration fees
- DIFC Courts: Property Will
- DIFC Courts: Guardianship Will
- DIFC Courts: Financial Assets Will
- DIFC Courts: Business Owners Will
- DIFC Courts: Digital Assets Will
Photo: Dubai skyline unsplash by Robert Bock, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped).
FAQ: DIFC wills
Who can register a DIFC will?
A person who is not Muslim and has never been Muslim, is at least 18 (per the DIFC Courts FAQ) and owns assets in the UAE and/or has minor children living in the UAE. UAE residency and a UAE visa are not required.
How much does a DIFC will cost?
Registration fees run from AED 5,000 for a single Guardianship, Financial Assets, Business Owners or Digital Assets will to AED 15,000 for mirror Full Wills. Lawyers' drafting fees are extra and there is no VAT on registration.
Can I register a DIFC will from outside the UAE?
Yes. The DIFC Courts FAQ says eligible non-Muslims can register virtually from any part of the world, and witnesses can join the appointment through a virtual meeting link.
Who can be a witness to a DIFC will?
Anyone aged 18 or over with a valid passport or government photo ID who is not a beneficiary or guardian in the will, or the spouse of one. Family members who meet these rules may act.
Does a DIFC will cover my property in India?
A Full Will can include foreign assets, but enforcement depends on the law where the asset is. Many NRIs keep a DIFC will for UAE assets and a separate Indian will for Indian property, drafted so they do not conflict.
What happens to a DIFC will if I get married?
Under the DIFC Rules, marriage after registration revokes the will unless it clearly states your intention to marry that person, so you would need to register an updated will.
Read next
- NRI will in India: 2026 guide for Indian and foreign assets
- Power of attorney for NRI property and banking
- UAE gratuity calculation with worked examples
- More Wills guides
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About the author: Sumit Manwal
Sumit Manwal is the founder of Hospitality Vacancy, the job site built for the hotel industry, which he has run since 2017. With more than 20 years of experience in hospitality, he received the Excellence in Hospitality Sector of Uttarakhand award (January 2023) and the Dainik Jagran inext Uttarakhand Ratan award.
He is passionate about helping hotel management students and hospitality professionals build successful careers, and connects talented people with hotel jobs across India, the Gulf and Europe. On Expat Insurance & Law he writes clear, practical insurance and legal-paperwork guides for NRIs and expat workers in the Gulf, US, UK, Canada and Australia, so every reader can make confident decisions about their work and life. He is not a legal or insurance professional, so every guide here links to official sources and he encourages readers to confirm details with a qualified expert before acting.
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